 |
| Neb English Support |
THE OVAL PORTRAIT
✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡
About the Story:
This short story "The Oval Portrait" is a gothic (relating to the style of fictional writing associated with the Gothic revival, emphasizing violent or macabre events in a mysterious, desolate setting) horror story which has been written by a popular American writer Edgar Allan Poe.
Edgar Allan Poe was one of the famous writers of America who was recognized for his notable creations. Within his short period (40 years) of life, he had written many popular creations which are still popular all over the world. His creations are still taught and learnt in many academic institutions.
This story "The Oval Portrait" is based on the theme of the relationship between life and art. The story has revealed the idea that art can lead anyone towards perfection if it is applied in life in a very positive way. But, it can even destroy anyone's life if it is applied in the wrong way.
This story was initially published in the year 1842 in Graham's Magazine in a longer version entitled 'Life in Death'. Later on, it was published on April 26, 1845, in the edition of Broadway Journal in a shorter version with a new name called "The Oval Portrait"
This story has a gothic setting of desolate Chateau in the Apennines of central Italy. The setting and the frame narrative technique (a story within a story) of the story have made all the readers feel fearful as well as curious.
The main narrator of the story is unnamed here. From beginning to the end, he keeps on telling his own story which he had experienced once. He relates the event of one painful night which he had spent with his male servant Pedro in a desolate Chateau of central Italy.
✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡
Main Plot:
According to the narrator, he and his valet Pedro arrived in front of that desolate Chateau during the evening time. He was not in a good state. He was seriously wounded. The weather was too cold outside.
: Here the narrator hasn't provided us with the background. We don't get proper information about the narrator and his valet Pedro. We are unaware of the following questions:
■ From where did they arrive there?
■ How did the narrator get wounded?
The narrator adds that his valet Pedro took him inside the Chateau forcibly because he found none there to get permission. Pedro felt for the narrator and his condition in the cold environment outside. He felt it better to take his master inside.
The narrator mentions the author of the gothic novel Mrs. Red Cliff. He relates the gothic settings of Mrs. RadCliffe novels with his gothic setting of Chateau. He finds a similar environment in front of his eyes to that of Mrs. RadCliffe's novels' gothic settings.
The narrator describes the things inside the Chateau. He says that his valet took him to one of the smallest apartments of Chateau. The rooms inside the Chateau were quite small. It had bizarre architecture from the inside. The room which they selected to spend their night was full of old and decaying decorations. There were many old paintings, tapestries on the wall, trophies etc. He kept on looking at these old pictures around. His valet Pedro comforted him on a bed managing the huge curtains which covered the bed. He closed the heavy shutters of the room in demand of the narrator. He lit on the candelabrum for his master too.
: We find Pedro very caring and faithful towards his master. His acts of supporting the narrator show his loyalty towards his master. We can consider him as an honest and hardworking fellow.
After that, the narrator didn't sleep. He decided to contemplate the pictures of the room. He found a small volume of the book on the pillow of his bed which was related to the background of the painting. He started reading that volume. He read that volume for hours till deep midnight. He felt uneasy to read the volume due to the rays of candelabrum. He decided to change the place of candelabrum without disturbing his valet who was in his deep sleep. He moved the candelabrum so that its rays could fully fell upon the book. The rays of candelabrum fell upon a painting of bed-post which he didn't notice before. He noticed an oval-shaped portrait of a young girl who was just ripening into womanhood. He hurriedly looked at that painting and closed his eyes. He was startled to look at such a lively picture of that young girl in that designed oval frame. He felt deceived by his vision. He couldn't believe his eyes. He started thinking about the reason closing his eyes.
The portrait of a young girl was so technical. The head and shoulders seemed so great-looking due to its vintage manner of art. The oval frame of the painting was beyond description. He felt satisfied with the true secret of its effect. He replaced the candelabrum in its former position. He eagerly sought the volume and started reading with great enthusiasm.
The Concept Of Frame Narrative in the story (A Story within Story):
: The readers move along with a story of the narrator and his valet Pedro during nighttime inside Chateau. But later on, a new story starts within this story. The readers are redirected towards the next story while reading a different story.
New Story:
The narrator read the lines of the book being so curious. According to the story, the woman depicted in that portrait was a beautiful wife of a passionate painter who loved his artwork more than anything else in the entire world. Once, he desired to paint the portrait of his newly married wife. To fulfil her husband's desire, she became ready to pose for her husband. She posed for him sitting on a chair. The painter started his artwork passionately. She kept on giving him a smiling pose in the rays of the light. The task of painting the portrait continuously moved on for weeks. The light rays which fell upon her made her weak and change in her colour. During the time of artwork, the moody painter didn't ask his wife about her condition. He seemed quite obsessed with his artwork. His wife even didn't reveal her pains thinking about her husband's pleasure. The painter locked himself and his wife in Chateau's tower. The colour of her face started changing and she became weak. The painter focused his mind on painting every changed colour of her face. He brushed upon the mouth and placed a tint upon the eye. When he completed his artwork, he cried with a loud voice saying "This is indeed Life itself". Finally, when he turned his artwork to show his wife being so happy, he found his wife dead on that chair.
✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡