I would love to hear what others thought of this chapter, since I struggled to get through all of the rambling lists. I think it highlighted Dorian’s state of mind and the last line “There were moments when he looked on evil simply as a mode through which he could realize his conception of the beautiful.” is SO good, but oof what a chapter
The first time through the chapter, I was trying to just get through it. Not allowing myself to linger. That was a harder read.
The second time, I treated it more like poetry and art and, also, like time passing, and that was a very different read.
It had occurred to me that the lists were related to phases of Dorian's life... time periods in which he devoted himself to new wonders and the collection of experiences. How grand was each, in its way, and how fascinating. But he always moved on—which was the story of his life. And, I think, because many of the lists tie back to so many historical events, it is being suggested that this is the story of humanity, as well.
I think the lengthiness of the chapter, then, is supposed to give us a sense of Dorian having traveled through years. So much time passed in this chapter! And, despite the years, he's not gained much in terms of soul-growth. This feels really important. :)
I glazed over a bit on some of those. I was sort of wondering how one even comes up with this stuff. Maybe he did a little bump of something and just wrote everything he could think of?
I would love to hear what others thought of this chapter, since I struggled to get through all of the rambling lists. I think it highlighted Dorian’s state of mind and the last line “There were moments when he looked on evil simply as a mode through which he could realize his conception of the beautiful.” is SO good, but oof what a chapter
The first time through the chapter, I was trying to just get through it. Not allowing myself to linger. That was a harder read.
The second time, I treated it more like poetry and art and, also, like time passing, and that was a very different read.
It had occurred to me that the lists were related to phases of Dorian's life... time periods in which he devoted himself to new wonders and the collection of experiences. How grand was each, in its way, and how fascinating. But he always moved on—which was the story of his life. And, I think, because many of the lists tie back to so many historical events, it is being suggested that this is the story of humanity, as well.
I think the lengthiness of the chapter, then, is supposed to give us a sense of Dorian having traveled through years. So much time passed in this chapter! And, despite the years, he's not gained much in terms of soul-growth. This feels really important. :)
I glazed over a bit on some of those. I was sort of wondering how one even comes up with this stuff. Maybe he did a little bump of something and just wrote everything he could think of?