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vangoghssunflowers's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I adore Wilde’s writing style, his long winded artful sentences that turn into paragraphs scratch the perfect spot on my brain. The novel drags in the middle, but if you power through that section it wraps up nicely. Definitely a classic, so expect the usual racism and sexism mixed into the pot!
mavisbird's review
5.0
So at first, I wasn't sure how I would like it. I have read many classics but its been a little while since I enjoyed one again. It definatly can get pretentious in certain parts. But the characters and story building are done well. They make so much happen, when not much happens its impressive. The story is chilling and so intriguing that it keeps you glued in.
casspom's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was promised queer culture and got metaphores on art.
Was a surprising read, but fun! A sort of comedy in 2024
Was a surprising read, but fun! A sort of comedy in 2024
siriuslypoetic's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
steph_k_103's review
5.0
I absolutely adored the truth of Wilde's words that remained untouched by numerous accounts of editing to suit public interest. The way in which he articulates the motives behind human behaviour and the damaging nature of emotion will forever be enthralling.
The impassioned exploration of human connection, particularly between Mr Gray and Basil, brought forward a finer detail in his words that gave them more value. Wilde was not afraid to confront the conservative opinions of his time, and present forward another view that others may find dangerous. With a certain ambiguity that was more present in this version than others.
"It is quite true that I have worshipped you with far more romance of feeling than a man should ever give to a friend. Somehow, I had never loved a woman. Well, from the moment I met you, your personality had the most extraordinary influence over me. I quite admit that I adored you madly, extravagantly, absurdly. I was jealous of every one to whom you spoke. I wanted to have you all to myself. I was only happy when I was with you. When I was away from you, you were still present in my art."
I also adore Wilde's way of articulating his words. His proclamations around egocentricity, beauty, love, passion, betrayal, and self-worth, are tantalizing. For what some people may find presumptuous, is really an representation of accepting another way of thinking. Acknowledge that an opposing way of thinking can exist in truth with your own.
“There is no such thing as a good influence, Mr. Gray. All influence is immoral—immoral from the scientific point of view."
"Why?"
"Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of some one else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him. The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly—that is what each of us is here for. People are afraid of themselves, nowadays. They have forgotten the highest of all duties, the duty hat one owes to one's self. Of course, they are charitable. They feed the hungry and clothe the beggar. But their own souls starve, and are naked. Courage has gone out of our race. Perhaps we never really had it. The terror of society, which is the basis of morals, the terror of God, which is the secret of religion—these are the two things that govern us. And yet, I believe that if one man were to live out his life fully and completely, were to give form to every feeling, expression to every thought, reality to every dream—I believe that the world would gain such a fresh impulse of joy that we would forget all the maladies of mediaevalism, and return to the Hellenic ideal—to something finer, richer than the Hellenic ideal, it may be. But the bravest man amongst us is afraid of himself”
Other nice qutoes <3
"For this — for this — I would give everything! Yes: there is nothing in the whole world I would not give!"
"This portrait would be to him the most magical of mirrors. As it had revealed to him his own body, so it would reveal to him his own soul."
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it — and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful."
The impassioned exploration of human connection, particularly between Mr Gray and Basil, brought forward a finer detail in his words that gave them more value. Wilde was not afraid to confront the conservative opinions of his time, and present forward another view that others may find dangerous. With a certain ambiguity that was more present in this version than others.
"It is quite true that I have worshipped you with far more romance of feeling than a man should ever give to a friend. Somehow, I had never loved a woman. Well, from the moment I met you, your personality had the most extraordinary influence over me. I quite admit that I adored you madly, extravagantly, absurdly. I was jealous of every one to whom you spoke. I wanted to have you all to myself. I was only happy when I was with you. When I was away from you, you were still present in my art."
I also adore Wilde's way of articulating his words. His proclamations around egocentricity, beauty, love, passion, betrayal, and self-worth, are tantalizing. For what some people may find presumptuous, is really an representation of accepting another way of thinking. Acknowledge that an opposing way of thinking can exist in truth with your own.
“There is no such thing as a good influence, Mr. Gray. All influence is immoral—immoral from the scientific point of view."
"Why?"
"Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of some one else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him. The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly—that is what each of us is here for. People are afraid of themselves, nowadays. They have forgotten the highest of all duties, the duty hat one owes to one's self. Of course, they are charitable. They feed the hungry and clothe the beggar. But their own souls starve, and are naked. Courage has gone out of our race. Perhaps we never really had it. The terror of society, which is the basis of morals, the terror of God, which is the secret of religion—these are the two things that govern us. And yet, I believe that if one man were to live out his life fully and completely, were to give form to every feeling, expression to every thought, reality to every dream—I believe that the world would gain such a fresh impulse of joy that we would forget all the maladies of mediaevalism, and return to the Hellenic ideal—to something finer, richer than the Hellenic ideal, it may be. But the bravest man amongst us is afraid of himself”
Other nice qutoes <3
"For this — for this — I would give everything! Yes: there is nothing in the whole world I would not give!"
"This portrait would be to him the most magical of mirrors. As it had revealed to him his own body, so it would reveal to him his own soul."
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it — and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful."
ecerkvenik's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
3.5
the misogyny is tough. Gives much to think about
chailajohnson's review
4.0
3.5
The lesson here is to not value your appearance above everything else. The ending felt a little ominous and I enjoyed that. This was pretty tame for something that’s uncensored but I guess even the implication of homosexuality was too much for people back then. Is it even worth me reading the revised version, how much more will that add to the story?
The lesson here is to not value your appearance above everything else. The ending felt a little ominous and I enjoyed that. This was pretty tame for something that’s uncensored but I guess even the implication of homosexuality was too much for people back then. Is it even worth me reading the revised version, how much more will that add to the story?
kaytiii's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
gay as promised, skipped the whole chapter on furnishings, also did wilde hate women or???