Question

theme (definition):1. the ____________: basil = ____, __ = pleasure, dorian = ____.2. influence and ________: lord henrys words shape s outlook; raises responsibility vs ________ question.3. youth and _______: dorian dreads ___, wishes for __________ while portrait bears marks of .4. reality vs illusion: _ adored for her acting, not her ____. dorian __ her when the illusion fades.5. _ vs aestheticism: clash between (,) and pleasure (_, ___).

Explanation:

This exercise focuses on key themes from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. Each blank is filled based on core characters, conflicts, and thematic elements of the novel:

1. The first theme contrasts the three central characters' core values: Basil represents morality, Lord Henry represents pleasure, and Dorian becomes the embodiment of hedonistic desire.
2. The second theme explores how Lord Henry's hedonistic ideas manipulate Dorian, sparking the conflict between personal responsibility and moral accountability.
3. The third theme centers on Dorian's terror of aging and death, his wish for eternal youth, while his portrait carries the physical marks of his corruption and time's passage.
4. The fourth theme highlights the gap between reality and illusion: Sibyl Vane is loved for her fictional stage personas, not her real self, and Dorian rejects her when she can no longer maintain that illusion.
5. The final theme is the clash between Victorian morality (represented by Basil's ethics and conscience) and aestheticism/hedonism (represented by Lord Henry's philosophy and Dorian's pursuit of pleasure).

Answer:

Theme (Definition): The conflict between morality, hedonism, and the cost of pursuing eternal youth and aesthetic pleasure in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray*

1. The Moral Triangle: Basil = morality, Lord Henry = pleasure, Dorian = hedonistic desire.
2. Influence and Manipulation: Lord Henry's words shape Dorian's outlook; raises responsibility vs moral accountability question.
3. Youth and Mortality: Dorian dreads aging/death, wishes for eternal youth while portrait bears marks of time/corruption.
4. Reality vs Illusion: Sibyl Vane adored for her acting, not her true self. Dorian rejects her when the illusion fades.
5. Morality vs Aestheticism: clash between (Basil, conscience) and pleasure (Lord Henry, Dorian).