PODG Ch. 5 and 6

Stephen Simmons-Uvin
Ap English/Mr. George
3/10/10
PODG

"Believe me that if this man wrongs my sister, I will find out who he is, track him down, and kill him like a dog. I swear it"(75).

Revenge and hate are simply things that can not be experimented with. They are monstrous chemicals who cause even the purest of heart to do dreadful things, when they are apart, and lethal when mixed together. As we have learned the act of revenge is in and of itself murder of the mind and of the human body. Edmond Dantes, from The Count of Monte Cristo, sought out revenge on those who had initially wronged him and in doing so, stained his hands with the blood of the accused. Robert Chillingworth, from The Scarlet Letter, violently desired to unravel his wife's "partner in crime," and in doing so he indirectly killed Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. The point is that revenge and hating someone for an act or a crime that they may have or will commit is not beneficial to everyone involved, in one way or another. Although Jim's threat was described as "over exaggerated," there is simply no telling what he will do if the situation presents itself. After all teenagers tend to exaggerate everything and have the nature of rolling dice: they are simply unpredictable. Personally I believe that Jim will return from his adventures and execute his initial plans to kill Dorian if he wrongs his sister, Sibyl. A child who can travel the world alone and provide his own safety and care for himself is most certainly capable of murdering a man in my book, but will he?

"He would be a wonderful study"(79).

Dorian is simply an "experiment," or "study," in the eyes of Harry, which reflects Harry's carelessness. It seems as though he is simply not effected by the possible outcomes of his influence and "studies" on Dorian. He seems to resonate toward a more teleological view of the world and life as opposed to a deontological view. He lives the present as he wishes because he simply has no value for human life, because the world, specifically Dorian, are his lab rats, and the results are very amusing. Harry simply lives for amusement, poisoning the minds of those who grow too close, and influencing them to believe what he believes and do what he says is right. Harry is the pianist and the citizens are his keys to which an ear-warming masterpiece is created. And he will play those keys and awe many people with his knowledge and talent until one day he might be given a show, and he might spectate some other genius who knew the world as well as he did, and he, for once, will be influenced by another and exposed to his own concoction.