Reviews with content warning for Classism - The Picture of Dorian Gray

Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

186 reviews

juxtasage's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

mlcart's review against another edition

4.0

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

folkloreatbest's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

My opinion shifted as I read, but overall, I thought this was fantastic. It had stunning prose, a powerful message, and an incredible ending that made up for the slow chapters I didn't connect with. I see this becoming a favourite of mine. Some comments in the book were unpleasant, but as with any classic, l view it as a product of its time while still being critical. What struck me was Basil feeling like he put part of himself into his art. If art reflects its artist's soul, The Picture of Dorian Gray reflects Oscar Wilde's. I felt like I could sense his spirit within it. I felt his love & heartache, desires & fears, virtues & faults. It's more than fiction; it's a glimpse of his time, worldview, and emotions. The characters felt real because they contained a piece of Wilde. Their internal struggles were real because they reflected Wilde's own. It takes bravery to bear a piece of your soul to the world. He was a true artist.

There's a line between self-love and narcissism; Dorian Gray crossed it. He was more than his youth or beauty, but he couldn't see that. Obsession with beauty corrupted his soul. He was in love with his youthful appearance, leaving him unable to love another because he only cared for the superficial. ‍Sybil loved Dorian. Basil loved Dorian. Dorian loved only himself, so he destroyed those foolish enough to love him. He destroyed lives because he lacked virtue & decency. He swayed others onto a path of vice just as Henry did to him.

This book is a warning about untamed vanity, selfishness, and valuing pleasure above all else. The messages are even more relevant in the internet age.

Dorian kept his youthful, innocent appearance, even as his soul rotted. I had both loathing and enjoyment for his character. I wanted to see him change, be better, and find peace. Dorian Gray was selfish, hedonistic, and cruel... yet I felt bad for him. In the beginning, he was just a boy. His worldview was still evolving when it was tainted. Throughout, I found myself feeling deeply sad about his corruption. Was it Henry's influence that ultimately corrupted Dorian? Could the beauty of his soul have been saved, even by someone like Basil? Was he always doomed to realize that youth and beauty fade, and to lose himself to this? I felt like Dorian had an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, with each of his friends swaying him in different directions. Ultimately, negative influence won, but it could've gone the other way. It was heartbreaking.
The idea of the painting showing not only age but also moral corruption of his soul was pure genius from Wilde. The ending left me stunned. Dorian realizing the depth of his corruption made my heart ache. Not even his insistence that he could be "good" was enough to save him. His fate, perhaps, was sealed from the beginning; it was tragic, but inevitable.

Content Warnings

lunar_witch's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

readingwitharielle's review against another edition

2.0

dark reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Ugh, what a drag. In the beginning I was already considering a reread when I had more time to sit and sort out all the 19th century trappings but then came the mysogyny and antisemitism.

It had moments of being profane but overall was rather dull and the writing overly flowery.

Wanted to DNF several times but wanted to read it before reading Charming Devil by Rebecca Kenney.

Content Warnings

nikolareadsquestionmark's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

flygonjinn's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

madi_f's review against another edition

4.75

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

raeverie's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

samanthabreading's review against another edition

2.0

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"Life is not governed by will or intention. Life is a question of nerves, and fibres, and slowly built up cells on which thought hides itself and passion has its dreams."

Quotes like that help me to understand why this story is considered a classic and why some people love this book. I was so excited to read this based on what I have heard on the concept and how fascinating it was for Wilde to write this type of story, especially in 1890. Despite this, I honestly did not have a good time reading this book. I may have had a lot more praise for it and may have worked better for me as a short story? It wasn’t because the language was flowery, more so that the main characters were so insufferable and it felt like nothing really happened until near the end. This book was only 200 some pages but FELT more than double that to SLOGGGG through, and this was with a tandem physical and audio read.

I give Wilde respect for this type of story in that time period (though it is heavy on the antisemitism and misogyny), but this was just not my jam nor my cup of tea.

Content Warnings

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