Macbeth and Picture of Dorian Gray Essay
The Picture of Dorian Gray – Victorian Era
Gray swaps his soul for the painting through an indirect Faustian Bargain.
Quote: 'Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that! '
Social Values/Context:
Aestheticism was exposed to Dorian Gray by Lord Henry who was an aesthetic himself, which ultimately leads to the Faustian Bargain.
Quote: "Oh, she is better than good – she is beautiful," murmured Lord Henry, sipping a glass of vermouth and orange-bitters. "Dorian says she is beautiful, and he is not often wrong about things of that kind. Your portrait of him has quickened his appreciation of the personal appearance of other people. It has had that excellent effect, amongst others."
Historical Values/Context:
Was shunned by the public for it’s immoral and unorthodox nature.
Hint of homosexuality
Faustian Bargain – (decay of living standard)
Cultural Values/Context:
Values of humanity (fear of losing humanity/identity)
Macbeth – Elizabethan Era
Macbeth goes under manipulation by the witches, and is seen to swap his soul due to his pride and ambition, which eventually leads to his destruction.
Quote: Macbeth says, "The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o 'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires"
Social Values/Context:
Beliefs in the supernatural, the witches are a catalyst of the summoning the Faustian Bargain along with Macbeth’s attitudes towards ‘fate’, ‘destiny’ and ‘ambition’
Quote: “And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling
Showed like a rebel 's whore, but all 's too weak:
For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name--
Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel,
Which smoked with bloody executions”
Historical Values/Context:
Catholicism and conservativeness were important values at the time until Pope Pius V declared Queen Elizabeth illegitimate and that her subjects shouldn’t owe obedience to her. Even though
Gray swaps his soul for the painting through an indirect Faustian Bargain.
Quote: 'Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that! '
Social Values/Context:
Aestheticism was exposed to Dorian Gray by Lord Henry who was an aesthetic himself, which ultimately leads to the Faustian Bargain.
Quote: "Oh, she is better than good – she is beautiful," murmured Lord Henry, sipping a glass of vermouth and orange-bitters. "Dorian says she is beautiful, and he is not often wrong about things of that kind. Your portrait of him has quickened his appreciation of the personal appearance of other people. It has had that excellent effect, amongst others."
Historical Values/Context:
Was shunned by the public for it’s immoral and unorthodox nature.
Hint of homosexuality
Faustian Bargain – (decay of living standard)
Cultural Values/Context:
Values of humanity (fear of losing humanity/identity)
Macbeth – Elizabethan Era
Macbeth goes under manipulation by the witches, and is seen to swap his soul due to his pride and ambition, which eventually leads to his destruction.
Quote: Macbeth says, "The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o 'erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires"
Social Values/Context:
Beliefs in the supernatural, the witches are a catalyst of the summoning the Faustian Bargain along with Macbeth’s attitudes towards ‘fate’, ‘destiny’ and ‘ambition’
Quote: “And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling
Showed like a rebel 's whore, but all 's too weak:
For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name--
Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel,
Which smoked with bloody executions”
Historical Values/Context:
Catholicism and conservativeness were important values at the time until Pope Pius V declared Queen Elizabeth illegitimate and that her subjects shouldn’t owe obedience to her. Even though