Dorian Gray Synthesis Blog

Wilde conveys Dorian's ever progressing corruption through contrasting his reactions to the respective demises of James Vane and Basil Hallward. After Basil's murder, Dorian is able to quickly rid himself of blame and guilt. By the next morning he could be found "sleeping peacefully" (166). Conversely, after his contact with James, "when he closed his eyes he saw again the sailor's face" (205). Through this contrast Wilde displays how Dorian's sins have begun to catch up with him to the point where instead of floating airily away from him, they haunt him. After Basil's death, Dorian is able to fully place the blame onto Basil's cold dead shoulders by reminding himself "of all that he had suffered" (166). Dorian finds comfort in justifying his killing Basil by saying that Basil caused him to suffer. This makes him calm and free from the sense of culpability. As Dorian continues on his life of sin and peril, it all begins to catch up with his corrupting soul. His past has become so overwhelming that when he is finally forced to face it, it begins to haunt him. After seeing James, Dorian is anything but calm, he suddenly feels "sick with a wild terror of dying" (205). Dorian is becoming paranoid, the feeling of being "hunted, snared, (or) tracked down begun to dominate him" (205). Dorian tries to put these feelings out of his mind, much in the way that he put the feeling of blame out of him after the incident with Basil, this time by saying that all of these ideas are merely figments of his over active imagination. However, it is not mere imagination that has led him to this point. His corrupted conscience and soul are beginning to catch up with him and are making "each crime share its misshapen brood" (205). Between the Basil and James encounters, Dorian has grown a sense of paranoia and increasing corruption. Through his different reactions to both of these incidents, Wilde shows the reader just how terrible Dorian has become. Always carefree, guiltless Dorian is finally feeling the burden of his sins catch up with him.

Dorian Gray Blog 5

Wilde employs the use of strong diction and imagery about the yellow book at the conclusion of chapter 11 in order to convey his message of the corruption that Dorian has undergone. To be blunt, "Dorian Gray had been poisoned by a book" (150). Wilde's strong, concise manner of addressing this facet of Dorian shows the audience that there is no beating around the bush, Dorian has been corrupted. His innocence has been replaced by a sense of loftiness. Dorian has become not only fascinated, but haunted by the character in the book and all of the ideas he brings about in his mind, they even "trouble his imagination in the day" (150). Dorian has gone through a full paradigm shift since the beginning of the novel, before he knew not of the evils in the world, but now he "look(s) on evil simply as a mode through which he (can) realize his conception of the beautiful" (150). He has become utterly self absorbed in his youthful appearance and the secrets that lay at disposal of his key. This new, poisoned Dorian possesses a new sense of wisdom, however it has had the opposite affect that one might think, it has made him more shallow.
In chapter 12, Wilde uses selective dialogue to further convey the message of Dorian's corruption by displaying his new change in attitude. Basil speaks to him from the heart saying, " (he) want(s) (Dorian) to lead such a life as will make the world respect (him)" (156), and that he wants him to "get rid of the dreadful people (he) associate(s) with" (156). Basil is looking out for Dorian's best interests and trying to help him grow as a person. He sees that Dorian has fallen down the wrong path having heard "that (Dorian) corrupt(s) everyone with whom (he) becomes intimate"(156). Basil pours out his heart and his hopes for Dorian, and all Dorian replies is "to see my soul"(156). Wilde uses this diction to show Dorian's eminent self absorbency. After Basil goes on preaching and working to help him, Dorian's apparent indifference is shown through his short, self centered reply.

Dorian Gray Blog 4

On page 122, Wilde employs figurative language as well as strong diction in order to portray the way in which Dorian has grown to be a far more self aware character than he was before as well as to tie together Dorian's portrait to his soul. In the beginning of the novel, Dorian was a very innocent, docile character but with the influence of Lord Henry, he has blossomed into a far more confident person. Wilde's use of symbolism shows the reader how Dorian has taken control of his life. When Dorian "put(s) the key in his pocket" (122), he is taking ownership of his sins and knowingly hiding them where no one else may find them. The key is like his portrait, he will keep it hidden yet close. It is very symbolic of the power Dorian now possesses over his own emotions and his future. Wilde goes on to compare the "corruptions"(122), of what the painting portrays as being "worse than the corruption of death itself" (122). This strong comparison puts the severity of Dorian's actions in perspective for the audience. By calling the corruptions manifested in the painting worse than those of death, Wilde is stressing the fact that Dorian must now live with what he has done throughout his life. Wilde further strengthens his message of the severity of Dorian's actions to the plot by forming the analogy "what the worm is to the corpse, his sins would be to the painted image"(122). This analogy shows that his sins will eat away both at the tangible representation of his soul, as well as the one within him. The more Dorian sins, the more the sins will "defile (the painting) and make it shameful" (122), and by doing so, "mar (his) beauty and eat away (his) grace"(122). Through this passage, Wilde forever ties Dorian's portrait with his soul and brings to surface Dorian's new found knowledge of what he does.

Dorian Gray Said/Done Blog

Wilde uses the dialogue on page 81 to convey two of his main themes to the audience, Dorian's naive nature as well as the differences in character of Dorian's two biggest influences: Hallward and Henry. Dorian's hyperbolic diction show that his youth governs his views on the world, often leaving him with a less than realistic picture. To Dorian, "the world is nothing to be compared with (Sibyl)"(81), he finds her to be the greatest thing possible. Wilde uses figurative language to show that Dorian is so enthralled with her that he thinks of her in an almost dreamlike way saying that he "left her in the forest of Arden ...and shall find her in an orchard in Verona" (81). The fact that his love is so great and so dramatic shows his youthful hope and in doing so also shows his oblivion to the way the world truly works. This naive quality sets him up to be the subject of the far more sage characters in the book. Through his descriptions of mannerisms, Wilde depicts the differences between the Hallward and Henry as they act as one an other's foil characters. Hallward would like to allow Dorian to grow and learn freely and without impediments from anyone and so when Henry begins to indoctrinate Dorian again, he lays "his hand upon his arm"(81) to let him know he needs to let Dorian make his own decisions and develop in his own way. Hallward sees that Dorian "is not like other men. He would never bring misery upon anyone" (81), he fosters his naive ways and looks to allow Dorian to grow at his own pace but for now bask in his naive youth. Henry on the other hand sees Dorian as a fresh canvas on which he may paint his own ideas of society until he has created a masterpiece. He often does not know when to stop pushing Dorian's limits and often needs Hallward to remind him that he has "annoyed Dorian"(81). These two characters are opposite in both their motives and styles. Wilde uses this passage to show their differences while also highlighting the subject which they both want to have influence over.

Dorian Gray Blog 3

Writers often display their views about life and human nature through the words and actions of their characters, The Picture of Dorian Gray is no exception. However, the views of the author are never the sole ideals portrayed through the characters because then every character in every book would the same, a copy of its author. By this token, one cannot assume that Wilde is misogynistic simply because Lord Henry looks down upon women and marriage. He believes that those "who love only once in their lives are really the shallow people"(53). Lord Henry is looking to win back the focus of Dorian from Sybil, so his anti marriage and women views surface all the more. In an effort to win back Dorian's main infatuation, he makes the institution of marriage look as bad as possible and talks about how women "are always bothering us to do something for them" (83). Despite all of this talk, Dorian is emphatically in love with "Sybil Vane (who) is sacred" (56). These two conflicting views on love would leave one who believes the views of an author are expressed through their characters a bit confused. Wilde never states in the book that he himself looks down on women, he simply alludes to the fact that Lord Henry does. This is why Wilde is not a misogynist. If the views of an author are shown through characters, how can one know which character the author is living vicariously through?

Dorian Gray Blog 2

The character of Lord Henry is that of a middle aged man who has gleaned wisdom through his life and is looking for someone to bestow it upon. He disregards the opinions of others, especially when it comes to their reactions about his brash stances on life. This intriguing knack of speaking the truth makes him very enticing to those who meet him, "for days after [Dorian] met [Lord Henry], something seemed to throb in [Dorian's] veins" (52). This strong sentiment of connection displays how much others are drawn to Lord Henry. This is a result of the carefree yet wise attitude that seeps from him always, "All I want to do now is look at life. You may come and look at it with me, if you care to" (47), his manner strikes a note of curiosity within those around him and pulls them into his influential presence. Characters that meet Lord Henry naturally are shaped by his influence and Dorian is no exception. Lord Henry even admits that he "always like(s) to know everything about [his] new friends, and nothing about [his] old ones" (38), this opens up the fact that he takes a great deal of interest in Dorian. He sees Dorian as his newest protege of sorts, he wants to open him up to the world. But most of all, Lord Henry wishes "to project [his] soul into some gracious form... [and] hear [his] intellectual views echoed back...there was a real joy in that...perhaps the most satisfying joy left" (38). Lord Henry will touch Dorian's life in what will be to the boy, previously unimaginable ways and make him more jaded, meanwhile he will simply be exercising his own whims and basking in his influence.

Dorian Gray Blog 1

The character of Dorian Gray is one of an innocent and impressionable nature. His youth allows him to be not only open to the influences of those around him, but also gives him a vain sense of self. These two factors will ultimately allow those who know how to manipulate and flatter him, like Lord Henry come to have power over him. Dorian's vanity comes from his beauty, but it will ultimately become a downfall due to how much he cares for it, he is even "jealous of everything whose beauty does not die" (29). This focus on beauty has caused Dorian to be doted upon, but for the first time he has met someone who "has certainly not been paying (him) compliments"(22) in Lord Henry. This is Dorian's first intriguingly different acquaintance and his youthful curiosity draws him to want to hear more of what Lord Henry has to say. Dorian is at present, a young man on the brink of self discovery. Prior to meeting Lord Henry, he has lived a life of focus on beauty and the present, not thinking of how it will fade in the future. His new acquaintance has awakened him to the fact that "we never get back our youth" (25) which has ignited a new pining for self discovery that he previously had been numb to. The fact that Dorian has a new, ravenous hunger for thought coupled with the fact that Lord Henry finds there to be "something terribly enthralling in the exercise of influence" (39) lead one to the belief that Dorian will become a product of this influence. He has the want for more substance in life and he has the need for guidance, this leaves him perfectly open to the influence and radically realistic ideas of Lord Henry.

The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Blog 2

The entitlement of Eliot's piece is full of irony, but also with some hidden meaning. The poem is about a man who is struggling with an internal conflict, trying to decide which of two worlds he belongs in. It is ironic that the title would make one think that it is all about love lost, when it is really about a man lost in the gray area between two societies. Love songs always include an object of one's affection, but in this case, the man is speaking about himself. The speaker feels as though he has lost love for himself, making this a very nontraditional love song, so much so that the idea of it being called one is ironic. On the other hand, the two worlds of this piece could be considered forbidden lovers and the subject is trying to allow them to be together in his mind, but to no avail. This would make for a very depressing love song, much like this poem seems to show a man in despair. The two worlds are nothing alike, there is a stark contrast between worlds that have "necktie(s) rich and honest" versus those that are peppered with "lonely men...leaning out of windows". The subject of the poem is faced with the daunting task of choosing where to fit in. By trying to bring these two forbidden worlds together, he risks losing one forever.

The Love Song of Alfred J Prufrock Blog

Throughout the piece, the subject experiences a variety of conflicts but the conflict most prominent is the one within himself. The speaker struggles as he straddles the line between two very different worlds, the classy world that he feels he should be in and the shady one he finds himself in. This conflict is the basis for all of the others in which he finds himself. The subject finds himself on a quest for love that he wishes to find in the upper class circle that he is societally involved with, however he finds himself falling back into his old patterns of the easy, drab life. On one hand, the subject tells himself "I grow old...I grow old" which speaks to the fact that he knows he is getting older and needs to become serious and settle down. On the other hand, he convinces himself that there is "time yet for a hundred decisions and for a hundred visions and revisions before the taking of toast and tea". He is justifying his indecision about life by saying that he has time before he must finally grow up. This main conflict is the flame behind all of the others. The subject would not be experiencing conflicts with the women alluded to in the poem if he was not struggling within himself to fit in. The subject would not be struggling with his society if he was not facing turmoil within himself as to where in it he belongs. The subject would not be battling time if he could stop struggling with indecision. The struggle that the subject faces with himself is one that consumes him, it fills his mind with racing thought and conflicting ideals. This sort of struggle is immensely relatable because the audience can think of times in their life when uncertainty surrounded them as they approached a crossroads.

Pride and Prejudice Blog 6

Austen’s character development and underlying message throughout the text show that she meant the opening line of the novel to be taken satirically. The variety in character opinions and thoughts on marriage show that Austen is looking to convey that not everyone fits into society’s cookie cutter. The wording of the line suggests that marriage is not about love, but rather more of a statutory requirement like the materialistic idea of the “possession of a good fortune”(5) that precedes it. Marriage after fortune implies that marriage is not about love, but about furthering one’s coordinates on the societal map. The use of hyperbole Austen employs by stating that it is “universally acknowledged” (5), is her way of not only showing the magnitude of marriage’s importance in society, but also drawing one’s attention to how it is often ridiculously pursued and obsessed over.
Had the line been meant to be taken seriously, the men of the novel would have all been married quickly and with the intent of boosting their societal standing. Bingley and Darcy are well taken care of in regard to their fortunes and therefore according to the statement, they should be “in want of a wife” (5). While they are definitely looking to find marriage, they are looking for more as well. Had Bingley been solely focused on marriage, he would have found a desirable partner when he went into the city, however, his quest for love called upon him to wait for Jane. Similarly, in the case of Darcy, love trumped status. Darcy is aware of the societal wall that separates him and Elizabeth as he concedes to having a “sense of her inferiority, of its being degradation, (and) of the family obstacles” (188). Had Austen meant for the opening of the book to be taken literally, the men would have been far shallower as the live suggests the situation of marriage to be.
Marriage is the primary focus in the lives of the townswomen in the novel. Mrs. Bennet’s “business of life was to get her daughters married” (7). Mrs. Bennet obsesses over her daughters and getting them engaged all the while ready to brag to Lady Lucas about anything that happens, suggesting that this obsession goes beyond her frazzled mind and into those of the other women. Austen uses the over the top dramatic character of Mrs. Bennet to display how vital marriage is in that society. The opening line of the book is something that Mrs. Bennet would believe in but its hyperbolic nature makes one see that she can be just as ridiculous. The quote goes on to say that “this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of …one…of their daughters” (5), this further exaggerates the feelings of the families. People did not consider single men to be the property of their daughters, but this satirical exaggeration calls the reader to see just how important marriage is.

Pride and Prejudice Blog 5

Through her side by side juxtaposition of the engagements of Lydia and Wickham as opposed to Jane and Bingley, Austen looks to highlight not only the differences between the two couples but also in doing so, show the true personalities of the characters around them. Through showing the differences in the ways their relationships progressed and the courting process, or lack there of, the personalities of the characters involved become all the more vivid as Austen provides the reader with insight into their reasoning. The reactions and support of the people closest to them are then offered as a window into those characters real motives and thoughts on the matters of marriage and happiness.
Lydia and Wickham's engagement comes as a result of imprudent, rash decision making on behalf of both. The pair had been known of "being in love with each other many weeks" (281). Wickham has lured Lydia while she is away from home and at the whim of her flirtatious nature as she has been "given up to nothing but amusement and vanity" (274). This goes against the societal expectations that are displayed through the ways of Bingley who asks Jane to dance, speaks with her, and visits her home. The bond between Bingley and Jane took them months of proper courting to be built and is a family affair, Mrs. Bennet urges her daughter "make haste...Bingley has come"(333). On the opposite hand, the relationship of Wickham and Lydia begs questions like "why all this secrecy...why must their marriage be private"(274). Austen uses the discrepancy between the amounts of courtship and family involvement to set the stage for the motives of each character. Wickham is known to have "neither integrity nor honour" (275), and having also his less than desirable state of financial affairs, the only motive behind his marriage to Lydia was monetary, he "cherished the hopeof making his fortune by marriage" (313). Bingley on the other hand is well provided for in the least, he may reside at Netherfield and makes "four or five thousand a year" (337). This and the fact that his character thus far has proved to be only noble and kind shows that he is after Jane for all of the right reasons. Jane and Bingley have known eachother for a longer period of time than Lydia and Wickham and even Elizabeth concedes that Bingley's "expectations of felicity (were)...rationally founded"(336).
The reactions of the other characters to the impending engagements in the novel are employed by Austen to give insight into their true character. When Mrs. Bingley learns of Lydia's scandalous wedding, "to know that her daughter would be married was enough. She was disturbed by no fear of her felicity, nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct" (296). This displays that her true motive really is to marry her daughters off at all costs. Happiness, tarnishing the family name, and love are of no concern to her so long as her life's goal is met. This depicts Mrs. Bingley as a more fake, self centered character than one may have already assumed. Elizabeth's honesty shines through as she learns of Lydia's marriage saying "Small as their chance of happiness, and wretched as is his character, we are forced to rejoice"(294). Elizabeth never waivers from her displeasure in her sister's imprudent marriage and this shows her steadfast character. In contrast, when she hears about Jane's engagement, she has a "delight which words could but poorly express"(335). The reactions of Elizabeth display the the way in which the marriages should have been viewed: contempt for the frivolous and happiness for the in love.
Austen portrays these two meaningful engagements back to back in order to make the comparisons all the more clear. She uses the character opinions and the couples' courtships to show the differences between what society deems appropriate and not so much, and in doing so shows how the Bennet family may be less than conventional. The differences in the engagements also serves the purpose of showing the differences in the characters and who they really are.

Pride and Prejudice Blog 4

In the given passage, Austen employs descriptively deliberate diction and syntax to convey the impertinently jealous character of Caroline Bingley. It is shown that Caroline holds contempt for Elizabeth's relationship with Mr. Darcy through her "sneering(ly) civil" attitude (logos). This attitude is a manifestation of the "jealousy (that) had not yet made her desperate" (ethos). Caroline has been overtaken by the green monster of jealousy and although not yet acting out in desperation, this jealousy has given her the audacity to act against the usually polite societal standards and deliberately make the situation awkward through her conversation. Austen displays Caroline's degree of jealousy through her rationality lacking attempt at conversation, "(the militia) must be a great loss to your family". With this statement, Caroline looks to call the attention of the party, mostly Darcy, to Elizabeth's less than quintessential family and in doing so, juxtapose it with her own, more ideal stature in life (ethos). Caroline is driven by her "imprudence of anger", which being a relatable feeling allows Austen to connect the audience to her and create a more defined disposition (pathos). In describing Caroline's emotions, Austen allows her underlying motives regarding Mr. Darcy to shine through (logos). Through Miss Bingley's dialogue, demeanor, and overall lack of civility, Austen establishes not only her truly jealous character, but also one which can be related to and better understood.

Pride and Prejudice Blog 3

The only people to blame for the misconduct of Lydia are Mr. and Mrs. Bennet themselves. Nurture, or lack thereof is what leads Lydia astray from the strict moral and societal guidelines that defined her era. The dysfunctional environment that she has grown up in fostered her wild, unbridled spirit. This environment was encouraged by parents who had little control over their often rampant daughters. Maybe had the Bennets employed a governess, things would have been much different. The daughters “never had a governess...those who chose to be idle certainly might” (164). This disorder allowed Lydia to be free as a bird.
Mr. Bennet did not do much as far as the raising of the girls went. He is an apathetic figure who provides wit instead of boundaries. Elizabeth evens concedes that she was never “blind to the impropriety of his behavior as a husband” (231). Elizabeth, being one of his favorites receives more attention from him than the others do, but in most cases he is too bust being “fond of the country and books” (231). Had he been a more attentive father he may have been able to encourage better behavior of Lydia as well as provided her with a strong male role model. Mr. Bennet knows of Lydia’s behavior but he was “contented with laughing at them [and] would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his youngest daughters” (209). He is made of “a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic, humour, reserve, and caprice” (7), although these qualities endear him to Elizabeth who he himself describes as having ‘more of quickness than her sisters” (7), they do not make him a respected father to his other daughters. Instead of intervening in the haphazard disarray that is his household, Mr. Bennet chooses the easy path and just observes and adds his commentary.
Contrary to her husband’s reserved personality, Mrs. Bennet is unafraid to meddle in the girls’ lives as well as present her opinions and motives flat out to those who are around her. “The business of her life was to get her daughters married”(7), she will not rest until this task is completed to her satisfaction. This open focus on the importance of marriage pushes Lydia to make that her life’s priority as well. Mrs. Bennet encourages Lydia to flirt by not only bringing her out into society at an uncommonly young age, but also bringing her to Meryton with full knowledge of the officers stationed there. Lydia has begun to think highly of herself and wants to “be married before any of you [sisters]” (216). Mrs. Bennet’s condemnation of her other daughters’ lack of marital pursuit makes Lydia her favorite daughter, she refers to her being more “good humored” (6) than the others. This positive attention teaches Lydia that her actions are correct, and ultimately leads her down the path of ruin that she has already embarked on under the watchful eye of her mother. Lydia has developed an attitude towards the fact that her older sisters are not married saying that “Jane will be quite an old maid soon…how ashamed I should be of not being married before twenty three” (216). A girl Lydia’s age does not come to this attitude on her own, but under the guidance of a pushy, marriage focused mother. Had Mrs. Bennet sought to teach the girls values rather than that marriage is the only thing in life, Lydia would not have made it her sole purpose in life and therefore she would not have been so quick to elope.
One may argue that the parents are not at fault by saying that one cannot control girls of that age. However, in the society of that time, it was uncommon for girls like Lydia to be given as much freedom as she had, when Lady Catherine hears of her being in the public eye she finds it appalling. Some may say that the parents had no reason to distrust Lydia and therefore had no way of expecting that this would ever occur. The flaw in this argument is that they did. If Lydia’s personality was not clear throughout her actions and infatuation with the troops and with men in general, they Bennets certainly should have known once Elizabeth confronted them about it. Elizabeth describes her sister as having “a rage for admiration…[being] vain, ignorant, idle, and absolutely uncontrolled” (226), qualities which are not only unladylike, but damaging to the image of the family as a whole. Mr. Bennet however chose not to heed Elizabeth’s warning and ultimately allowed her to go to Brighton which leads to her elopement. His position of patriarchal authority would have allowed him to stop her from going, but he chose not to. The Bennet parents could have exerted innate parental control over Lydia and taught her better values, but their lack in both departments brings them to blame for her grave folly.

Letter Critique: Dasomi!

Dasomi did a great job of beginning the letter with Elizabeth's apology. The way she wrote it made it very sincere and I liked it a lot! There might have been a couple of typos, but the extensive vocabulary more than made up for it. The best part of the letter to me was her emphasis on Jane and Elizabeth's relationship, this definitely sounded like something Elizabeth would say. The description of how bad she felt for Jane made the letter feel all the more authentic. She did a great job of addressing each issue that Mr. Darcy wrote about in his letter. The ending was really good because it showed that Elizabeth did not just expect Darcy to take her back, but was ready to start over with him. Great job (:

Letter Critique: Sarah!

Sarah's letter managed to use good language while being clear and to the point which was great! My favorite part was when she described Mr. Darcy by saying that he "oozed pride and superiority" although Elizabeth might not have said it that way, it was great imagery and I liked it a lot! Sarah showed that Elizabeth learned lessons from this whole ordeal by discussing how it will affect her in her life to come. I thought that was great because it is definitely something Elizabeth would have learned from. The section when she describes Elizabeth as being blinded by prejudice is another great descriptive part. All of the descriptions in the letter were great because they made the letter very intriguing! The letter definitely sounded authentic and I like how the ending was a happy one. Great job (:

Letter Critique: Emmeline!

While I read Emmeline's letter I felt like I was seriously reading part of the novel. The language and mannerisms captured the spirit of Elizabeth so well! I really liked the way Emmeline explained Elizabeth's logic while maintaining Elizabeth's independent character. The letter flowed and was very well thought out as it addressed all of the issues that Mr. Darcy brought up in his letter. The part where she addresses how she used the Wickham incident to back up her prejudices is very well written and is one of my favorite parts! The happy ending with Elizabeth asking to be able to accept his proposal was great because it is very hopeful and definitely one of the things Elizabeth might do. Towards the beginning of the letter when she addresses Elizabeth first meeting Mr. Darcy and her first impressions of him, I really like how she is incredibly descriptive. This allowed me to really get into Elizabeth's frame of mind and set the tone for the rest of the letter. So descriptive and great language! Good job (:

Letter Critique: QingFei!

I thought that Qingfei's letter was good because it covered all of the topics that Mr. Darcy talked about in his letter. I also like how she had Elizabeth decline his proposal again because that is definitely something that could happen in novel. I also like how she explained why Elizabeth felt the way she did which would definitely help Mr. Darcy to understand her point of view. The words she used were also very descriptive. One critique is that the wording of some sections was a little different than it may have been in the book. I really liked the emphasis she put on Elizabeth's relationship with Jane!I feel like Elizabeth and Jane are very close and so that would be an important aspect of Elizabeth's letter. Overall good job! (:

Letter Critique: MJ!

I really liked the language that Melissa used throughout her letter! I thought it mimicked Elizabeth's really well and could have come right out of the book. I like how Melissa kept saying how she would understand if Darcy did not accept her letter, because it would be understandable if he did not want to. I also liked it because she is asking him to respond to her letter and it leaves the ending of the story open to the imagination. I also like how she is able to empathize with Mr. Darcy and say how she would have done the same thing if she was in his position with Jane. The tone of the letter was also very fitting because it was apologetic and sincere, but not desperate and I believe that this is how Elizabeth would sound. The part when she writes about her heart being heavy was really good because I liked the imagery and emotion that that evokes. Overall I thought this letter was great! (:

Dearest Mr. Darcy,

I pray that this letter finds you in spirits better than our latest meeting. It is my hope that you will read this letter with not the feelings that my actions of late must have stirred, but rather with an open mind. My feelings towards you are now definitely positive, but their level is unknown even to myself. I had never thought that our interactions gave you anything more than an opinion to squabble with, so I was naturally taken aback by your proposal. Upon reading the letter you so graciously wrote to me, I was forced to reevaluate my less than amiable actions with regard to yourself. But with this letter I make no move as to pardon myself from the way I judged you. What I do move to regret was my blind trust in the outline of your character I was given, without allowing you to color it in yourself. I believe that in reading this letter you will come to see my side, and to better understand the conclusions that I so irrationally arrived at.

I know better than may outwardly appear the impropriety of my family’s behavior. I also acknowledge that our place in society is far less lofty than yours. But to me, they are family; the only one I can ever have. I cannot look always to pardon them, and I cannot be blamed for feeling defensive when they come into question. When in your proposal you spoke so freely of your disdain for them, I could not help but be taken aback despite my resigned agreement on many of your points. As for one particular member of my family, I feel that she has no reason to be pardoned, but in fact if I may be so bold, you should be seeking pardon from her. This member is of course my dear sister Jane. Her heart, as a result of your influence over Mr. Bingley refuses to be mended. She is a reserved person, but this does not make her less of a suitable wife. With that said, I now see why your actions were so. You were looking out for the best interest of your friend, as I did the same for my sister. I cannot fault you now that I know of your motives. At the time, it was impressed upon me that you wanted Mr. Bingley for your sister. This conclusion had been reached from correspondence between my sister and Miss Bingley as well as through conversing with your cousin. She is a kind soul who would never look to hurt a bee, yet I had to watch a melancholy air take hold of her, as a result of your hand. I hope that you can see now the reasons for my disdain for you in regard to her.

The next object of my ridicule for you was the affair between Mr. Wickham and yourself. I oblige you to understand that as the affair was relayed to me, you had deeply wronged not only a fellow man, but a comrade from youth of whom your late, revered father was so fond. From what Mr. Wickham so earnestly implored to me, you had taken his bright future and wiped it away in total disregard of your father’s wishes. I found this offense to be verily horrific. To not only leave a childhood companion out to the streets, but also to go against the wishes of such a kind and respected gentleman as your father was something that I could only see as a fault. Had I been not so blind as to see the manner of Mr. Wickham, or had I been as magnanimous as to hear your side of the affair before passing judgment, this account would not be in question now, and for that I do apologize.

These affairs for which I have accounted my reasoning and judgment only reinforced the first impression that I had of you. Your pride commanded the attention of all whom laid eyes on you in Hertfordshire. Your airs were taken as carrying a self-importance that was unparalleled by any other man we had seen. At this time I saw you as vain, and wanted nothing more to do with you. The more I saw of you, the more reasons I found to believe you were arrogant and haughty. Now that I have heard your side of the events I so harshly judged your character by, and now that I have heard those who know you well speak of you rather than the town gossips, I now see how wrong I was. I see that what I saw to be pride and a feeling of superiority was your lack of social comfort in a dauntingly new circle. What I saw to be the hasty splitting of two happy individuals for selfish reasons was really one looking out for the interests of his naive friend. What I saw to be the disregard of a childhood companion in pursuit of self- advancement was really the protection of the family fortune and legacy from being squandered away. Had I given you a chance, pain could have been spared all the parties involved. Had you made your true self better known, the same result would have been found. I have trouble in the admittance of my wrongdoings, but in this instance, my reconsiderations have beyond a doubt made me feel remorseful.

I hope that my previous feelings and actions towards you can be considered more justified now that you have read of my reasoning, but if this letter has proved no consolation, I apologize that I have not the skill to persuade you that I am not as artificial as you must now see me. However, there is nothing more that I can do. What is done is done. I close with the hopes that this letter will not be taken out of context, and the knowledge that lessons have been learned by both the sender and the receiver. My idea of you has changed indefinitely, but I do hope yours of me has not.

Ever cordially yours,
Miss Elizabeth Bennet

Letter Critique: Brittany!

I thought that Brittany's letter was really good. I liked how she had Elizabeth address her character flaws by saying that she had a confidence in her ability to judge character. This is something that Elizabeth might not say, but it is definitely something she would feel. I also thought that it was good how Brittany left the ending open so that we could all think about how it might end up. She explains Elizabeth's logic really well. I like the tone she uses because I can picture Elizabeth speaking like that in the book. It was also good how she outlined the progression of Elizabeth's feelings and explained them. Good job (:

Letter Critique: Ceilli!

I really liked Ceilli's letter a lot. It captured the emotional aspect of Elizabeth perfectly! I liked the way she let Mr. Darcy know about how flustered she felt. It was also really good how she ended with extending her hand in friendship rather than just accepting marriage, it was a nice way to sort of decline his offer. it was also cool how she used a question to cause Mr. Darcy to think about his actions, it was an interesting strategy. Ceilli also did a really good job of explaining Elizabeth's thought processes and reasoning, this made the letter sounds pretty real. The word choice of this letter helped me to put myself in Elizabeth's shoes because it depicted a lot about her emotions. Overall I thought this was really good. (:

Letter Critique: Nick!

Nick's letter was really good. It used a lot of words and phrasing that really reminded me of the way that Elizabeth talks. I really liked the way that the letter was straightforward and to the point. That aspect reflected how Elizabeth can be sort of obstinate, which is a different take than many of the other letters showed. I liked that Elizabeth did not accept the proposal outright, but kept the offer open. This made me think about possible endings which is good. It is good that he writes about Elizabeth wanting to further their relationship because that makes the whole situation more positive sounding. The best part of the letter was the way in which Nick was able to incorporate remorse into a matter of fact tone. I likes his letter a lot. Great job ! (:

Pride and Prejudice Letter Critique: Hannah!

I feel that Hannah's letter would fit into the novel amazingly well. The word choice and mannerisms she used were on point with Elizabeth in the novel. I thought that the ending was especially good because she had Elizabeth not only ask for forgiveness, but also accept Darcy's marriage offer (and we all know how I love a happy ending). Hannah allowed Elizabeth's personality to come through the letter which was really good and made it seem more real.
I also like how she addressed every point that Mr. Darcy made in his letter in order. This letter showed how Elizabeth is at this point in the book a bit emotionally vulnerable because she must admit she is wrong and hurt her pride. If I have to critique something, it might have been good to add a little more about why Elizabeth thought badly about him before. But overall I like how you can sense what Elizabeth is feeling through the word choice in the letter. Great job! :)

Pride and Prejudice Blog 2

Gleaning from our class discussion and the readings from Pride and Prejudice, one can assume that the character of Mr. Darcy is far more complex than meets the eye. Darcy is early on depicted as being a disagreeable sort, but later on in the novel his softer, more considerate side will be sure to surface. Society often forces men to act strong and tough, and for Darcy, this hard exterior expectation manifests itself in his proud ways and not outgoing personality. On the outside, he portrays himself to be a proud and conceited man who knows just how to influence those around him and get his way. At the ball, Darcy is thought to be the most intriguing man in the room until "his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased"(12). Darcy gives off an air of superiority that deters people from favoring him because they find him to be excessively proud and vain. However, the book itself illustrates the difference between the two, and in doing so justifies Darcy and his early attitude. The fact that "pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves (and) vanity to what we would have others think of us"(21), shows that Darcy does not in fact have vanity, rather a sense of pride, something that "human nature is prone to"(21). If Darcy was vain and caring solely about what others thought of him, he would not allow his attitude to damage his outward appearance, he would be quietly displeased with those around him and not speak his mind. Darcy does however allow people to know what he is thinking, even if it comes across as brutally honest or borderline rude. When he speaks about Elizabeth at the ball he calls her "tolerable; but not handsome enough"(13), this shows that he is not afraid to voice his opinion, despite the way society may view it. Darcy is wrongfully judged by most of the characters before his manner can be fully developed, they see him as being "the proudest and most disagreeable man in the world"(13). Considering the proud sense of self that he clearly displays, it says a lot about how he feels when he asks Elizabeth to dance, seeing as when previously encouraged to dance he proclaimed that he "detest(s) it, unless (he) is particularly acquainted with (his) partner"(13). By dancing with Elizabeth despite his feelings about dancing, Darcy is showing a glimmer of his soft side. Later on in the novel, when this side is evoked it will show Darcy's complexity and how kind he can be. Elizabeth views him much the same as the rest of her society does and her prejudices against him cause her to shut him down instead of draw out the soft side of him. This gives Darcy a feeling of rejection and in order to deal with it, he hides behind his proud walls, acting again as though he his superior. Elizabeth's prejudices will be proved wrong down the road because there is far more to Darcy than meets the eye.