Villain Synthesis Essay

Villain Archetype Synthesis Essay

In The Picture of Dorian Gray (Chapter 11), Oscar Wilde explores the profound effects of influence, appearance, and unrestrained pleasure on moral integrity. Dorian Gray’s obsession with maintaining his youthful beauty and indulging in sensory experiences ultimately reveals deeper ethical decay, serving as a cautionary tale about the costs of prioritizing personal desire over moral responsibility.

Disney villains and real-world figures often embody similar complexities, where ambition, influence, or the pursuit of personal gain leads to moral compromise. Through your chosen Disney villain and a relevant figure from current events or history, consider how Wilde’s themes in The Picture of Dorian Gray resonate beyond literature.

Assignment: Carefully read Chapter 11 of The Picture of Dorian Gray and consider the character traits, actions, and motivations of a Disney villain and a real-world figure who similarly embody themes of appearance, ambition, or moral ambiguity. Then, write an essay that synthesizes material from these three sources to respond to the following question:

To what extent does pursuing personal ambition or outward appearance contribute to moral corruption?

In your response, you should:

1. Present a clear thesis that responds to the prompt.
2. Support your argument with evidence from The Picture of Dorian Gray (Chapter 11), a Disney villain of your choice, and a real-world figure.
3. Organize your essay coherently and use specific examples to integrate these sources effectively.

Scoring Guidelines: Your essay will be scored according to the AP Language and Composition Synthesis Rubric, which assesses thesis development, evidence and commentary, sophistication of argument, and effective synthesis of sources.