“I glanced at the painting hurriedly, and then closed my eyes. Why I did this was not at first apparent even to my own perception. But while my lids remained thus shut, I ran over in my mind my reason for so shutting them. It was an impulsive movement to gain time for thought.”

This quote occurs as part of the rising action and describes the narrator’s initial reaction to the oval portrait. The narrator’s instinctive attempt to block out the sight of the painting and ponder it with closed eyes instead suggests that he is deeply affected by art and seeks to understand why. His mind is a sharp and analytical one, and he takes great pleasure in introspection and deep thought.

“Thinking earnestly upon these points, I remained, for an hour perhaps, half sitting, half reclining, with my vision riveted upon the portrait. At length, satisfied with the true secret of its effect, I fell back within the bed.”

This quote continues the narrator’s deep reflection on the powerful effect the oval portrait has upon him. It reveals a tenaciousness about the narrator and suggests he is someone who will not be satisfied until he understands as much as he can about himself and the world around him. It also demonstrates a tendency toward obsession, and hints at a dark passion and destructiveness in his love for art.