The Mayor of Casterbridge - 1724 Words

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a short novel by Oscar Wilde originally published in 1890. The story begins at the home of Basil Hallward and opens with a conversation between him and Lord Henry Wotton. Lord Henry is fervently admiring Basil’s latest portrait of a young, beautiful man, Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray is the main protagonist in the story. He is described as having a â€Å"simple and beautiful nature†, and he remains this way until he is corrupted by the antagonist of the story, Lord Henry, who reveals himself to be the epitome of selfishness and egocentricity. He convinces Dorian that he must hold on to his youth as it will fade fast and he will grow old, which causes Dorian to wish that the painting Basil has crafted will grow old†¦show more content†¦However, although Sybil truly loves him he rejects her and tells her he never wants to see her again. When she commits suicide the night they break up, he shrugs her death off as â€Å"the past is the p ast,† thus beginning the real transformation into the monster he is to become. He continues to get progressively worse over the next decade or two until he murders Basil, who is attempting at the time to get him to beg forgiveness for his sins and is telling him it is not too late to change his ways. It is at this point that I believe that Dorian realizes he needs to change. One day while he is with Lord Henry he complains about not being able to love anymore and begs Lord Henry never to give the same yellow book to anybody ever again. However, when he returns to see if anything has changed in the portrait he is met with a smirk of hypocrisy. Dorian realizes that it has become impossible for him to turn back the moral dial; he had various opportunities to do so throughout the novel, but it is too late. In a last ditch effort he tries to destroy the picture – the man he has become – to redeem himself, but his attempts at redemption are unsuccessful; when he kills the man in the portrait he kills himself. 2) Often when reading we come across a particular line and must go back because it is simply worth another look. This line may give us chills and make us think for a second only to disregard itShow MoreRelatedThe Mayor of Casterbridge1523 Words   |  7 PagesThe Mayor of Casterbridge 1. Discuss the ways in which Hardy has raised awareness of social issues in the readers of The Mayor of Casterbridge. The Mayor of Casterbridge written by Thomas Hardy in 1884/85 reflects upon the Progression of Modernism during the first half of the 19th century English society that was progressing in a difficult transition from a pre-industrial Britain to â€Å"modern† Victorian times. Much of the action and plot in Hardy’s novel The Mayor of Casterbridge takes placeRead More The Mayor Of Casterbridge Essay964 Words   |  4 Pages Literature: The Mayor of Casterbridge nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Can it be said that Henchards downfall is all due to some great error? Some may believe that it is a penance for selling Susan, but this would be to take Newson out of the equation, who, it must be said, is just as guilty of this act as Henchard. I believe that Henchard is totally blameless for his downfall, to use a bad pun that will become apparent later, it is in his nature. It is my belief that Henchard is a personificationRead MoreThe Mayor Of Casterbridge Critical Analysis1473 Words   |  6 PagesInterpolation of Industrial Culture into Agrarian Society in The Mayor of Casterbridge In recent decades, American culture has shifted away from its long established ideals, globalization has depolarized the world, changing the landscape for gender equality, and exponentially advancing technology. These changes have occurred throughout history, constantly evolving the world to adapt to different problems. Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge shows the establishment of new trends in society, using charactersRead MoreThe Life And Death Of The Mayor Of Casterbridge1275 Words   |  6 PagesAs it’s full title, The Life and Death of the Mayor of Casterbridge: A Story of a Man of Character, indicates, the novel is concerned with the representation of the rise and fall, joys and sorrows, and triumph and defeat of its central character, Michael Henchard, where happiness seems as rare as an oasis in a vast dreary desert of sorrow and misfortune. Considered one of Thomas Hardy’s most masterful works, The Mayor of Casterbridge, is first and foremost an A ristotelian tragedy of the most movingRead MoreHenchard in The Mayor of Casterbridge Essay1042 Words   |  5 PagesIs Henchard a sympathetic character? Should we pity him at the end of the novel, or does he get what he deserves? â€Å"The Mayor of Casterbridge† – The title refers to the main character in the book, Michael Henchard, who is the key figure in the novel. The whole story rotates around his life, and how he and the other characters change. Many criticise Thomas Hardy for this book due to the unlikely coincidences that occur many times through the book. The book takes place in rural England, inRead MoreThe Mayor Of Casterbridge By Thomas Hardy1313 Words   |  6 PagesIn the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, the protagonist Michael Henchard discovers that if man makes rash decisions and is not careful, he will cause himself to self-destruct mentally and physically. Told in third person point of view, the author supports his theme by describing the setting of the fictional town of Casterbridge, establishing the central conflict of Henchard forgetting about his past, and becoming a new, better man. This affects the work as a whole because Hardy sRead MoreThe Setting and Symbols in the Mayor of Casterbridge1388 Words   |  6 Pagesconsider The Mayor of Casterbridge one of Hardy ¡Ã‚ ¯s two great novels. Of all the Wessex ¡Ã‚ ¯s novels, however, this is the least typical. Although it makes much less use of the physical environment than do the others, we still cannot ignore the frequently use of symbols and setting in th e novel. In my essay, I ¡Ã‚ ®ll analyze the function of the symbols and the setting in The Mayor of Casterbridge. THE SETTING AND SYMBOLS IN THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE The setting place of this novel is Casterbridge (England)Read MoreMayor Of Casterbridge Narcissistic Characteristics1446 Words   |  6 PagesDorset, a town that’s known for it’s ability to remained relatively unchanged in both quality of life and mentalities for hundreds of years. Hardy explores the characters in the town of Casterbridge in his novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge, which is based on his own hometown of Dorset. Within this town of Casterbridge, we follow, as Hardy puts it, A Story of a Man of Character. This supposed Man of Character is Michael Henchard, who challenges the readers perception of what it means to have characterRead MoreThe Mayor Of Casterbridge, By Thomas Hardy907 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal growth is an essential element of human development and progress. However, even though there are countless opportunities for the characters in Thomas Hardy s novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge, to embrace and experience this necessary growth, there is a n absence of such personal advancement and progress. Ultimately, the decisions and actions of Michael Henchard, Lucetta Le Sueur, Donald Farfrae, and Elizabeth Jane all demonstrate repetitive qualities and a lack of character development whichRead MoreThomas Hardys The Mayor of Casterbridge Essay1450 Words   |  6 PagesThomas Hardys The Mayor of Casterbridge. Sex is so intertwined in our society that it pervades each facet, including television, books, advertising, and conversation. Movies like The Matrix toss in gratuitous sex because the audience nearly expects it. Thomas Hardys The Mayor of Casterbridge, therefore, is exceptional in its lack of sexual situations. The subject of sexual motivation and its inherent ambiguity with regard to Henchards actions is a topic that caught my attention from the