Dorian Gray Chapters 5&6 Flashcards
C5 - character description of Mrs Vane
“false-jewelled fingers” “words dropped mechanically from her lips.” “her shallow secret nature.”
C5 - How is Mrs Vane referred to by others?
“shallowness and vanity of his mother’s nature.”
C5 - How does Mrs Vane refer to herself?
“I myself used to receive many bouquets.”
C5 - Character description of Sybil Vane
“a rose shook in her blood” “wind of passion swept over her” “joy of a caged bird in her voice”
C5 - How is Sybil Vane referred to by others?
far too young to think of falling in love” “graceful, refined looking girl” “felt oppressed, she could not communicate her joy”
C5 - How does Sybil Vane refer to herself?
“I am not worthy of him” “to play for his delight” “prince charming rules life for us now”
C5 - Character description of James Vane
“thick set figure” “rough brown hair” “sullen, heavy youth”
C5 - How is James Vane referred to by others?
“dreadful old bear” “You are like one of those heroes of those silly melodramas.”
C5 - What does James Vane refer to himself as?
“I am too shabby” “he detested scenes of every kind”
C5 - How are the Vanes shaped both economically and theatrically?
Vanes shaped by economic necessity as they need the money from Sybil’s acting, Mr Isaacs who she is contracted to acting for (her manager) gave family a £50 advance to help pay for James’ clothes. Theatrically the family is shaped as Mrs Vane was an actress and Sybil’s “false theatrical gestures” that have become second nature. Family described as melodramatic.
C5 - Why do you think James Vane is so worried about Sybil’s relationship with Dorian? What does he appear to have against Dorian, whom he has never met? (consider his mother’s secret that is later revealed)
James Vane is worried that Dorian will take his place, when he goes to Australia - that Sybil will depend on Dorian and not him. James against gentlemen /upper class abandoned his mother/died without giving them financial security.
C5 - The Vane family are our first insight into the working class. What impression are we given of their lives?
They live in small accommodations, only have one armchair to sit in the corner of the room. They have to work hard for everything, shown by Mrs Vane patching up Sybil’s dress.
C5 - A lot of flower imagery is used to describe Sybil. Find some examples of this in the text and analyse the language used. How does Wilde characterise her?
Sybil is described to be a rose, which is very dainty, negative sides of a flower is that they whither and die. Wilde characterises Sybil as pure and almost supernatural “her flower-like lips touched the withered cheek and warmed its frost.” Wilde has painted Sybil’s affections to be bright and full of life by describing her lips to be ‘flower-like’. Sybil is perhaps a wishful thinker as “a very dance of blossoms in blue skies” she is constantly thinking of Dorian.
C5 - Does Sybil understand her relationship with Dorian in a mature way?
In a way, I believe that she does as her dialogue within the chapter “prince charming rules life for us now” suggests she understands the patriarchy of society and how men ultimately have the final say. However I believe she fantisizes about Dorian, so much that she idealises him, worships him. I think that Sybil is in love with the idea of loving Dorian.
C5 - In what way is a sense of foreboding established in this chapter?
With James Vane threatening to kill Dorian if he hurts Sybil, not very typical of a gentleman –> especially in public. Established when Mrs Vane’s secret is finally revealed to her son, but the chapter ends with her worrying about her life, makes the reader question is there are a dramatic change about to happen.
