Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

36 reviews

sofiahenri's review against another edition

2.0

dark mysterious tense slow-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

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Ymmärrän miks tää on klassikko, mut mun kohdalla ei lähteny sitte yhtään... 😶 En sietäny hahmoja, dialogia enkä kirjoitustyyliä ylipäätään, mut taustalla olevat ideat oli mielenkiintoisia ja Oscar Wilde henkilönä kans!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Antisemitism

blossomfall's review against another edition

4.5

medium-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism

gothicsapphic's review against another edition

5.0

dark funny tense medium-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

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 “We shall all suffer for what the gods have given us, suffer terribly.”

I absolutely adore this book. From the concept to the exploration of the characters, Oscar Wilde’s amazingly crafted narrative is an excellent character study and a fascinating exploration of hedonism and vanity through the medium of gothic literature. 

Dorian Gray’s character is a perfect canvas on which to paint a picture of corruption of youth through selfish ideals. The catalyst for this corruption, Lord Henry, offers an interesting look into the normalization of dehumanization, hedonism, and a preference for public perception above all else. Through Lord Henry’s normalization of these themes, the darkness of Dorian’s thoughts and actions quickly escalate, being combined with his unrestrained hunger for pleasure. Viewing all suffering and tragedy as if it were merely a play to observe, detachment from reality becomes the name of the game, one which Lord Henry knows how to speak and Dorian knows how to play very well

up until his ultimate undoing.

  One who solely concerns themselves with hedonistic indulgences will strive to avoid mental anguish by any means necessary,

even if those means result in the degradation of one’s own soul, which is all the more exemplified by the case study of Dorian’s character.

  The homoerotic admiration that Basil holds for Dorian is also extremely fascinating. The artist and his muse, with Basil forever stuck in a position of unrequited love

that eventually leads to his own demise. The very thing that brought Basil and Dorian together, Basil's art, is ultimately what drives them apart, a classic depiction of queer tragedy steeped in Basil's unreturned adoration for Dorian.

 

I continuously keep returning to this book; its themes surrounding beauty as a measure of goodness continue to be relevant in the current day and I often find myself thinking about the captivating characters even when I have not read the book for some time (This is my third full read through of this book). It is important to mention that some ideals within this book are dated by the popular views of the time (some examples are explicit sexist, antisemitic, racist and classist remarks). I personally believe that these ideals are not shown in a positive light, as it is usually Lord Henry or Dorian parroting Lord Henry’s beliefs who are making these remarks, but I understand others’ opinions on this may vary and some readers may be sensitive to these subjects. This book also contains explicit religious motifs, so if you are sensitive to that I would not recommend you read this book.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for an entryway into gothic literature, especially if you’re interested in more supernatural elements or character studies in general! I will probably end up reading this book again before the year is over.

“The soul is a terrible reality. It can be bought, and sold, and bartered away, It can be poisoned, or made perfect. There is a soul in each one of us. I know it.”

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship

Minor: Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Classism

samyacosta's review against another edition

3.25

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Murder

mizzouatheart's review against another edition

4.75

dark mysterious fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, Classism

amre23's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

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A very interesting story. Many sentences were beautifully written and others a tad redundant. Overall enjoyed the story. A few parts dragged on with the descriptions of w.e. was happening. Good points to learn from the greediness some have with youth and the obsession to be considered "interesting".

Vanity is rampant in almost every character. 

Henry can kick rocks. He's an asshat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Antisemitism

Minor: Drug use, Classism

zahrowl's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Xenophobia

pizzaisjesus98's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Damn near perfect

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria

Moderate: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Antisemitism, Murder, Gaslighting

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Blood, Alcohol, Classism

imjumokay's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad 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

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fuck lord henry all my homies hate lord henry. good on victoria for leaving that miserable POS. rich people should have their excesses seized. get a job. my copy of this book was old and withered and musty like dorian gray and his crusty ass. basil <3 bby you didnt deserve what you got <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Classism

Moderate: Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation

Minor: Infidelity, Slavery

kreglow's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

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One of those books where I understand why it's a classic, but it just doesn't resonate with me. Mainly, the story would have been engaging if there was more focus on the plot rather than meandering and focusing on Wilde's philosophies. Honestly, this would have worked better as a stage play, something akin to Wilde's The Importance of Being Ernest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Murder