Comparative Themes

Appearance and Reality

Overview

Both novels explore the dichotomy between surface appearances and hidden realities. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" focuses on the outward beauty and inner corruption of Dorian, while "The Little Stranger" contrasts the decaying grandeur of Hundreds Hall with the underlying secrets and supernatural occurrences.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Key Plot Points

• Dorian's Portrait: Dorian Gray's portrait ages and shows the effects of his moral corruption while he remains outwardly youthful and handsome.
• Sybil Vane's Death: Dorian's rejection leads to Sybil's suicide, revealing the destructive impact of his superficial values.
• Basil's Murder: Dorian kills Basil Hallward to keep his portrait's secret, illustrating his moral decline and the widening gap between his appearance and reality.
• The Portrait's Revelation: The portrait ultimately exposes Dorian's inner corruption, leading to his death when he tries to destroy it.

Key Characters

• Dorian Gray: A young man whose outward beauty contrasts with his inner corruption.
• Lord Henry Wotton: A charming, amoral aristocrat who influences Dorian.
• Basil Hallward: An artist who paints Dorian's portrait and represents moral integrity.
• Sybil Vane: An actress whose love for Dorian ends tragically.

Key Quotations

"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."

• This quote encapsulates Lord Henry's hedonistic philosophy, which leads Dorian down a path of moral decay.

"The portrait was to bear the burden of his shame: that was all."

• The portrait symbolizes the hidden reality of Dorian's corrupted soul, contrasting with his flawless exterior.

"You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit."

• Dorian's relationship with Lord Henry underscores the allure and danger of living for appearances.

"His beauty had been to him but a mask, his youth but a mockery."

• This reveals Dorian's realization that his outward appearance was a façade hiding his true nature.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Key Plot Points

• The Visit to Hundreds Hall: Dr. Faraday's visit to the decaying estate sets the stage for the novel's exploration of appearances versus reality.
• Supernatural Occurrences: The mysterious events at Hundreds Hall suggest hidden forces at play, questioning the reality of the characters' perceptions.
• Caroline's Death: Caroline Ayres's death under mysterious circumstances raises questions about the true nature of the house's influence.
• The Hall's Decline: The physical decay of Hundreds Hall mirrors the unravelling lives of its inhabitants, revealing deeper truths about their pasts.

Key Characters

• Dr. Faraday: A country doctor whose fascination with Hundreds Hall drives the narrative.
• Caroline Ayres: A pragmatic yet haunted resident of Hundreds Hall.
• Roderick Ayres: Caroline's troubled brother, who suffers from PTSD and believes the house is cursed.
• Mrs Ayres: The matriarch of the family, who clings to the past and the house's former glory.

Key Quotations

"All the windows of the Hall are curtained against the sun."

• This imagery highlights the contrast between the house's outward appearance and the darkness within.

"I wondered what dark secret the Hall held, and whether it had cast its shadow over the lives of the Ayres family."

• Faraday's musings reflect the theme of hidden realities and the impact of the past on the present.

"It was as if the house itself were decaying, and the decay was spreading to its inhabitants."

• The physical decay of the house symbolizes the moral and psychological decay of the characters.

"A haunted house, a house where the past was still alive, a house where something malevolent lingered."

• This quote emphasizes the blurring of reality and supernatural elements in the novel.

Class and Society

Overview

Both texts critique the British class system and the impact of societal structures on individual lives. Wilde's novel examines the influence of social standing on characters' behaviours and values, while Waters' novel highlights the decline of the British upper class and the resulting class envy.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Key Plot Points

• Dorian's Introduction to High Society: Dorian's rise in social standing influences his values and actions.
• Sybil Vane's Rejection: Dorian's dismissal of Sybil reveals the superficiality and class prejudices of his social circle.
• Basil's Marginalization: Despite his talent, Basil is sidelined due to his lower social status compared to Dorian and Lord Henry.
• The Fall of Dorian: His eventual downfall reflects the emptiness and moral decay of his high-society life.

Key Characters

• Dorian Gray: His character illustrates the corrupting influence of high society.
• Lord Henry Wotton: Represents the decadence and moral ambiguity of the upper class.
• Basil Hallward: An artist who, despite his talent, is marginalized by the upper class.
• Sybil Vane: A lower-class actress whose life is destroyed by her encounter with Dorian's world.

Key Quotations

"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."

• Reflects the superficial values of high society and its focus on reputation.

"To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable."

• Highlights Lord Henry's disdain for traditional moral values, emblematic of the upper class's decadence.

"He grew more and more enamoured of his own beauty, more and more interested in the corruption of his own soul."

• Dorian's obsession with appearance and social status leads to his moral corruption.

"Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic."

• Suggests the underlying sadness and emptiness of the seemingly perfect upper-class life.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Key Plot Points

• Dr. Faraday's Aspirations: Faraday's desire to ascend the social ladder drives much of the plot.

• Decline of Hundreds Hall: The physical and financial decay of the Ayres family reflects the decline of the British upper class.

• Class Envy: Faraday's envy of the Ayres family and their status is a recurring theme.

• The Community's Reaction: The changing attitudes of the village towards Hundreds Hall and its inhabitants highlight shifts in societal values.

Key Characters

• Dr. Faraday: Represents the rising middle class and its aspirations.
• Caroline Ayres: Her pragmatic approach contrasts with her family's aristocratic heritage.
• Roderick Ayres: His struggle with PTSD and his decline reflect the broader decline of the upper class.
• Mrs Ayres: Clings to the past and the family's former status, embodying the resistance to social change.

Key Quotations

"It's the house, you see. It's the house that's doing it."

• Reflects the symbolic role of Hundreds Hall in representing the decline of the upper class.

"A decaying house in a declining village."

• Highlights the broader social and economic decline affecting the British upper class.

"The world was changing, and the Ayreses were changing with it."

• Illustrates the impact of societal changes on the upper class.

"He had always felt an envious longing to be a part of that world."

• Faraday's class envy drives his actions and reflects broader societal tensions.

Decay and Corruption

Overview

Both novels depict physical and moral decay. Dorian Gray's portrait reveals his internal corruption, while the deteriorating state of Hundreds Hall mirrors the decline of the Ayres family and their way of life.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Key Plot Points

• The Portrait's Transformation: The portrait ages and decays, reflecting Dorian's moral corruption.
• Sybil Vane's Death: Her suicide marks the beginning of Dorian's moral decline.
• Basil's Murder: Dorian's killing of Basil signifies his complete moral corruption.
• Dorian's Death: His attempt to destroy the portrait results in his death, symbolizing the ultimate consequence of his corruption.

Key Characters

• Dorian Gray: His outward beauty contrasts with his inner corruption, as revealed by the portrait.
• Lord Henry Wotton: Influences Dorian's descent into decadence.
• Basil Hallward: His moral integrity contrasts with Dorian's corruption.
• Sybil Vane: Her tragic fate marks the beginning of Dorian's moral decay.

Key Quotations

"The portrait was to bear the burden of his shame: that was all."

• The portrait symbolizes the hidden reality of Dorian's corrupted soul.

"There were moments when he looked on evil simply as a mode through which he could realize his conception of the beautiful."

• Highlights the intertwining of beauty and corruption in Dorian's worldview.

"It was his beauty that had ruined him, his beauty and the youth that he had prayed for."

• Reflects the destructive power of Dorian's obsession with his appearance.

"Each of us has Heaven and Hell in him, Basil," cried Dorian with a wild gesture of despair."

• This quote emphasizes the duality of Dorian's nature, torn between good and evil.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Key Plot Points

• The Decline of Hundreds Hall: The physical decay of the house mirrors the moral and financial decline of the Ayres family.
• Supernatural Events: Mysterious occurrences suggest a hidden corruption within the house and its inhabitants.
• Caroline's Death: Her tragic end underscores the pervasive sense of decay and doom.
• Faraday's Obsession: His fixation on the house and its decline reflects his own inner turmoil and moral ambiguity.

Key Characters

• Dr. Faraday: His obsession with Hundreds Hall drives much of the narrative and reflects his moral decay.
• Caroline Ayres: Her pragmatic approach contrasts with the family's decline, yet she ultimately falls victim to it.
• Roderick Ayres: His physical and mental deterioration symbolizes the broader decline of the Ayres family.
• Mrs Ayres: Clings to the past and the house, representing resistance to change and the inevitability of decay.

Key Quotations

"The house was in decline, but it was still a grand place."

• Highlights the contrast between the house's past grandeur and its current state of decay.

"Something was rotting in the heart of Hundreds Hall."

• Suggests a hidden corruption within the house and its inhabitants.

"The house itself seemed to have secrets, dark corners where the past lingered."

• Reflects the theme of hidden realities and the impact of the past on the present.

"It was as if the decay of the house had spread to its inhabitants."

• Mirrors the physical decay of Hundreds Hall with the moral and psychological decline of its residents.

Art and Life

Overview

The relationship between art and life is a central theme in both novels. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" examines how art can both reflect and distort reality, while "The Little Stranger" considers how personal and historical narratives shape the characters' experiences and perceptions.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Key Plot Points

• The Creation of the Portrait: Basil Hallward paints a portrait of Dorian Gray, capturing his physical beauty and, unbeknownst to him, his soul.
• Dorian's Deal: Dorian wishes that he could remain young and beautiful forever while the portrait ages in his place, a wish that is mysteriously granted.
• Sybil Vane's Death: Dorian's relationship with the actress Sybil Vane ends tragically, leading to her suicide after he cruelly rejects her.
• The Portrait's Transformation: Over time, the portrait becomes increasingly grotesque, reflecting Dorian's moral corruption.
• Dorian's Downfall: Dorian's hedonistic lifestyle leads to numerous ruined lives and ultimately his destruction when he stabs the portrait, resulting in his death.

Key Characters

• Dorian Gray: A handsome young man whose portrait ages and records his sins, while he remains youthful and beautiful.

• Basil Hallward: The artist who paints Dorian's portrait and who becomes horrified by the changes in the painting.

• Lord Henry Wotton: A nobleman who influences Dorian with his hedonistic and amoral philosophies.

• James Vane: Sybil's brother, who seeks revenge on Dorian for her death.

• Sybil Vane: A young actress who falls in love with Dorian and whose life ends in tragedy due to his callousness.

Key Quotations

"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."

• This encapsulates the hedonistic philosophy that Lord Henry imparts to Dorian, encouraging a life of indulgence without regard for consequences.

"He had uttered a mad wish that he himself might remain young, and the portrait grow old; that his own beauty might be untarnished, and the face on the canvas bear the burden of his passions and his sins; that the painted image might be seared with the lines of suffering and thought, and that he might keep all the delicate bloom and loveliness of his then just conscious boyhood."

• This wish is the catalyst for the entire plot, leading to Dorian's eventual moral decay.

"The portrait was to bear the burden of his shame: that was all."

• This line highlights the separation between Dorian's outward appearance and his inner corruption, emphasizing the theme of art reflecting life.

"It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors."

• Wilde's statement on the purpose of art, suggests that art reflects the viewer's perceptions rather than reality itself.

"All art is quite useless."

• This paradoxical statement challenges the reader to consider the value and purpose of art beyond its aesthetic appeal.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Key Plot Points

• Dr. Faraday's Involvement: Dr. Faraday becomes involved with the Ayres family and the decaying Hundreds Hall.
• Roderick's Breakdown: Roderick Ayres, the heir, suffers a mental breakdown, which he attributes to supernatural occurrences.
• Caroline's Death: Caroline Ayres dies under mysterious circumstances, believed by some to be linked to the haunting of the house.
• The House's Decline: The condition of Hundreds Hall deteriorates, mirroring the decline of the Ayres family.
• The Unresolved Mystery: The novel ends ambiguously, with no clear resolution as to whether the haunting was supernatural or psychological.

Key Characters

• Dr. Faraday: A country doctor who becomes deeply involved with the Ayres family and the mysteries of Hundreds Hall.

• Caroline Ayres: The pragmatic and strong-willed daughter of the Ayres family.

• Roderick Ayres: The heir to Hundreds Hall, who believes the house is haunted and suffers greatly.

• Betty: A young maid at Hundreds Hall who also believes in supernatural occurrences.

• Mrs Ayres: The matriarch of the Ayres family, clinging to the past and the former glory of her home.

Key Quotations

"I could almost fancy that the house has a grudge against us, something it is biding its time to repay."

• This quote reflects the novel's central tension between rational explanations and supernatural interpretations.

"The past, it seemed, was contained in those walls; it was the very essence of the house. A memory solidified."

• This line emphasizes how the physical decay of the house mirrors the psychological and emotional decay of its inhabitants.

"I could hear the house settling around us, like an old lady in her armchair, groaning into the embrace of her cushions."

• This simile personifies the house, suggesting its active role in the narrative and its impact on the characters.

"I felt a sense of something in the house, something malevolent, something that wanted to hurt them all."

• This expresses the pervasive sense of dread and the supernatural undercurrents that drive the story.

"Hundreds Hall was a little too far gone for that. Its decline, its failure, was absolute."

• The decline of Hundreds Hall symbolizes the broader themes of decay and the passage of time.

Gender Relations

Overview

Both novels explore the roles and relationships between men and women. Wilde's novel often objectifies women and highlights male influence, while Waters' novel delves into the dynamics of power and dependency within the Ayres family, particularly focusing on the experiences of the female characters.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Key Plot Points

• Dorian and Sybil Vane: Dorian's relationship with Sybil Vane highlights his objectification of women, as he is infatuated with her artistic representations rather than her true self.
• Lord Henry's Influence: Lord Henry's philosophies often demean women, viewing them as lesser and primarily as objects of desire.
• Dorian's Exploits: Dorian's interactions with women are marked by manipulation and cruelty, leading to the destruction of several lives.
• Basil's Admiration: Basil Hallward's relationship with Dorian can be seen as a contrast to the superficial relationships Dorian has with women, though it is tinged with possessiveness.
• The Climax: The destruction of Dorian's portrait and his death can be interpreted as the ultimate consequence of living a life devoid of genuine emotional connections.

Key Characters

• Dorian Gray: His relationships with women are superficial and often destructive, reflecting his moral corruption.

• Sybil Vane: An actress whose tragic end underscores the consequences of Dorian's objectification and manipulation.

• Lord Henry Wotton: His misogynistic views influence Dorian's attitudes towards women.

• James Vane: Sybil's protective brother, representing the consequences of Dorian's mistreatment of women.

• Basil Hallward: His complex feelings for Dorian contrast with the shallow relationships Dorian has with women.

Key Quotations

"Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly."

• This reflects Lord Henry's dismissive and objectifying view of women, which influences Dorian's behaviour.

"She is all the great heroines of the world in one. She is more than an individual."

• Dorian idealizes Sybil as an artistic creation rather than a real person, highlighting his inability to form genuine connections.

"When she found her prince charming was merely human, she began to faint."

• This line underscores the devastating impact of Dorian's superficial love on Sybil, leading to her ultimate demise.

"You used to stir my imagination. Now you don't even stir my curiosity."

• Dorian's cold dismissal of Sybil reveals his shallow nature and his inability to appreciate true love.

"There is always something infinitely mean about other people's tragedies."

• Dorian's lack of empathy and his detachment from the suffering he causes are evident in this quote.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Key Plot Points

• Caroline's Struggles: Caroline Ayres's efforts to maintain Hundreds Hall reflect the gendered expectations and limitations placed on her.
• Roderick's Dependency: Roderick's mental breakdown places Caroline in the position of caretaker, highlighting gender roles within the family.
• Mrs. Ayres's Control: Mrs. Ayres's lingering influence over her children and the house underscores the matriarchal control within the Ayres family.
• Dr. Faraday's Influence: His relationship with Caroline and his actions reveal underlying power dynamics and gender expectations.
• The Climax: The mysterious and tragic events culminating in Caroline's death bring gender tensions to the forefront, as her independence is ultimately thwarted.

Key Characters

• Caroline Ayres: Her strength and resilience are central to the novel, though she is ultimately constrained by her circumstances.

• Dr. Faraday: His interactions with Caroline reveal underlying gender dynamics and his control over the narrative.

• Mrs Ayres: The matriarch whose influence over the family highlights the complexities of gender roles within the household.

• Roderick Ayres: His dependency on Caroline for care highlights traditional gender roles and the strain they place on women.

• Betty: A young maid whose experiences also reflect the novel's exploration of gender and class dynamics.

Key Quotations

"She was trying to make herself love me, trying to see in me what she'd thought she'd seen on the night of the party, but we were too close to it all now."

• Dr. Faraday's reflection on Caroline's feelings highlights the gendered expectations and emotional constraints within their relationship.

"This house is playing tricks on you, Mrs. Ayres. It's trying to get you to stay."

• This quote underscores the gendered burden placed on Mrs. Ayres to maintain the house, despite its deteriorating state.

"She was braver than I had realised, braver even than me."

• Dr Faraday's acknowledgement of Caroline's strength challenges traditional gender roles and perceptions.

"She was always a proud woman, never showed a hint of weakness."

• This description of Mrs Ayres highlights the pressures on women to maintain strength and control, even in dire circumstances.

"I felt a sickening sense of what I had done to her."

• Dr. Faraday's realization of his role in Caroline's downfall reflects the novel's exploration of power and gender dynamics.