Although the first chapter may seem to simply depict the characteristics of the novels' major characters: Basil and Lord Henry, it actually bears a significant function of introducing most of the major themes of the book.
Throughout the chapter, the beauty of nature is repetitively praised an enjoyed by both the characters. Such as when depicting the atmosphere of the plot, the author uses sentences like "the heavy scent of lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pick-flowering thorn," (p5) "honey-colored blossoms of a laburnum... producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect."(p5) Also, the nature draws a parallel line with the characters' state much like "The wind shook some blossoms from the tress, and the heavy lilac-blossoms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air..... Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward's heart beating...."(p9) or "How pleasant it was in the garden!"(p15)
The concept of beauty is one of the issued topics discussed by Basil and Lord Henry. In the lines "But beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins,"(p6) Henry suggests that beauty is the subject of intellect and thus responds to Basil: "Don't flatter yourself, Basil: you are not in the least like him."(p7) Here, Henry considers Basil, an intellectual being, not as a beautiful being like Dorian. Then, Lord Henry stresses the concept of beauty contrasting beauty and intelligence even more by saying "there is no doubt Genius lasts longer than Beauty."(p14)
Perhaps the most important theme that may continue later in the plot is "secrecy" mentioned several times in the chapter. Somewhere in his conversation with Henry, Basil refuses to exhibit his picture by saying "I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul."(p8) Basil talks of secrecy even more by admitting his desire for secrecy - "I have grown to love secrecy....The commonest thing is delightful if one only hides it."(p7)
Of the last words of Basil towards the end of the chapter, there is a slight foreshadowing of what is to happen in the following chapters as Basil tells Lord Henry "Do not spoil him. Don't try to influence him. Your influence would be bad."(p16)
Other than the themes noticed above, there are still many more concepts to be discussed about in the first chapter; for instance, the hints of this novel as a Faustian tale. However, such things will certainly be carried into further discussion as the plot develops and important incidents take place.
I've been reading many of the others' journals and actually I think this journal of mine, I screwed up:( I really didn't put much of my thought into it, I simply analyzed it. I should write differently from now on.
답글삭제Actually, this is very good. Your thought is always welcome, but how you arrive at your own thought is also important. This is probably a result of Mr. Tame's approach, where he realistically wants you to focus on the book and dig in as a university professor would expect. I don't mind some personal touches, but most university professors will dissuade such approaches.
답글삭제So you examine all this secrecy, but don't quite go on to comment on perhaps "why" it is all in there. I think it might be a result of Wilde's private life - where he explores his "new hedonism" and later explores homosexuality. If it is controversial to lead that kind of double life now, it must have been more so in Victorian England. And yet, because he is from the upper class, and opium was common at the time, it was probably an open secret that such lifestyle existed.
Nice writing, and much better here than usual for some reason. Good stuff.