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rjkadlick's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
4.25
okay i've been sitting for two days straight trying to figure out how to properly review this book, so here goes:
1. the premise is super interesting and is carried out in an exciting way. i wish wilde had focused on the plot more, but i know i have a personal preference for plot-based books.
2. idk if i haven't read any classics in a while or if it's just this one, but it felt very Platonic (in the Plato way) with a lot of talk (especially by Sir Henry ) about Beauty and its relationship to Art, Genius, etc. i like this kinda stuff so i enjoyed it but if you don't you're not into a lot of abstract philosophical talk you're probably not gonna like it.
3. as with many classics, there's some... offensive portrayals of certain characters... in this case antisemitism and misogyny so i would recommend looking at content tags before reading!
overall though i thought it was super interesting and one of the easier classics to read and understand
1. the premise is super interesting and is carried out in an exciting way. i wish wilde had focused on the plot more, but i know i have a personal preference for plot-based books.
2. idk if i haven't read any classics in a while or if it's just this one, but it felt very Platonic (in the Plato way) with a lot of talk (especially by
3. as with many classics, there's some... offensive portrayals of certain characters... in this case antisemitism and misogyny so i would recommend looking at content tags before reading!
overall though i thought it was super interesting and one of the easier classics to read and understand
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Antisemitism
pershie13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. This. Was. Phenomenal. The writing and pacing were good, the story was gripping, and I was wondering how this book was going to end literally until the last sentence. This is my favorite classic I've read so far and easily deserves five stars!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Animal death
_saphyr_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Classism, Gaslighting, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Abandonment
everettab06's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
This is 1000% one of my favourite books of all time. I love Wilde’s writing style, and it’s such an interesting story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Racism and Suicide
visorforavisor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As a quick note beforehand: I acknowledge and do not approve of Wilde’s use of negative stereotypes of Jewish people in this.
The last time I read this, I knew next to nothing about the meaning of it in the context of the intense homophobia of the late-19th-century UK. But, reading it now, I realise how brave Oscar Wilde was to publish this. I quote from the original, uncensored version, Basil speaking to Dorian:
“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. […] I quite admit that I adored you madly, extravagantly, absurdly. I was jealous of everyone to whom you spoke. I wanted to have you all to myself. I was only happy when I was with you. […] Of course I never let you know anything about this. It would have been impossible. You would not have understood it. […] But, as I worked at it, every flake and film of colour seemed to me to reveal my secret. There was love in every line, and in every touch there was passion. As I said to Harry, once, you are made to be worshipped.”
And this is just one of the most blatant examples, one that had to be cut. There aren’t “homoerotic undertones” in Dorian. There is no “gay subtext”. It’s. About homosexuality. The whole book is about homosexuality. Even that bit at the start, about judging a book on its morality vs judging it on how well-written it is; what, it’s a coincidence that everyone ignored a beautifully written book because its gayness went against their morals?
All three couples possible between Dorian, Basil, and Henry are implied to have existed. Dorian almost certainly had a beyond-platonic relationship with Alan, who he later blackmails (a crime that comes later than murder, even as we know that his crimes become worse and worse… absolutely nothing [/s] to do with blackmail being the primary crime against gay men in this era, especially since we aren’t told what the blackmail material is, but we are told about Alan and Dorian’s “intimacy”). Dorian is repeatedly compared to male favourites of kings. He goes to a costume ball, in drag, dressed as a male favourite of Henri III of France. (Was it just chance that this is a similar name to Henry Wotton’s? Probably not.) Dorian owns homes, in which he and Henry holiday together, in known homosexual hotspots. He also attends brothels in an area known for its brothels having men for hire.
Dorian, thinking about how Basil’s affection and good nature could have saved him:
The love that he bore him — for it was really love — had nothing in it that was not noble and intellectual. It was not that mere physical admiration of beauty that is born of the senses and that dies when the senses tire. It was such love as Michael Angelo had known, and Montaigne, and Winckelmann, and Shakespeare himself. Yes, Basil could have saved him.
All the men named had homosexual relationships, and Wilde knew this. Compare with Wilde’s speech, in court, for the crime of homosexuality:
“The love that dare not speak its name” in this century is such a great affection of an elder for a younger man as there was between David and Jonathan, such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy, and such as you find in the sonnets of Michelangelo and Shakespeare. It is that deep spiritual affection that is as pure as it is perfect. It dictates and pervades great works of art, like those of Shakespeare and Michelangelo, and those two letters of mine, such as they are. It is in this century misunderstood, so much misunderstood that it may be described as “the love that dare not speak its name”, and on that account of it I am placed where I am now. It is beautiful, it is fine, it is the noblest form of affection. There is nothing unnatural about it. It is intellectual, and it repeatedly exists between an older and a younger man, when the older man has intellect, and the younger man has all the joy, hope, and glamour of life before him. That it should be so, the world does not understand. The world mocks at it, and sometimes puts one in the pillory for it.
(It’s worth noting that while Wilde does emphasise the younger and older men being in a relationship together, he’s not talking about paedophilia: Dorian is 20 when the story begins, and Henry 30. Basil’s age is unknown but he and Henry are simoultaneously called “young”, so he is probably between the two in age.)
This speech of Wilde’s, pretty much, sums up the relationship of Dorian with the combination of Basil and Henry. In the first chapters, Dorian does have “all the joy, hope, and glamour of life before him”. References to some of the same men not only continue to show parallels between these passages but make it absolutely undebatable that Wilde was saying Basil was gay. The similar use of the words “noble” and “intellectual”, all of it.
Dorian Gray is arguing on behalf of homosexuality.
The last time I read this, I knew next to nothing about the meaning of it in the context of the intense homophobia of the late-19th-century UK. But, reading it now, I realise how brave Oscar Wilde was to publish this. I quote from the original, uncensored version, Basil speaking to Dorian:
“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. […] I quite admit that I adored you madly, extravagantly, absurdly. I was jealous of everyone to whom you spoke. I wanted to have you all to myself. I was only happy when I was with you. […] Of course I never let you know anything about this. It would have been impossible. You would not have understood it. […] But, as I worked at it, every flake and film of colour seemed to me to reveal my secret. There was love in every line, and in every touch there was passion. As I said to Harry, once, you are made to be worshipped.”
And this is just one of the most blatant examples, one that had to be cut. There aren’t “homoerotic undertones” in Dorian. There is no “gay subtext”. It’s. About homosexuality. The whole book is about homosexuality. Even that bit at the start, about judging a book on its morality vs judging it on how well-written it is; what, it’s a coincidence that everyone ignored a beautifully written book because its gayness went against their morals?
All three couples possible between Dorian, Basil, and Henry are implied to have existed. Dorian almost certainly had a beyond-platonic relationship with Alan, who he later blackmails (a crime that comes later than murder, even as we know that his crimes become worse and worse… absolutely nothing [/s] to do with blackmail being the primary crime against gay men in this era, especially since we aren’t told what the blackmail material is, but we are told about Alan and Dorian’s “intimacy”). Dorian is repeatedly compared to male favourites of kings. He goes to a costume ball, in drag, dressed as a male favourite of Henri III of France. (Was it just chance that this is a similar name to Henry Wotton’s? Probably not.) Dorian owns homes, in which he and Henry holiday together, in known homosexual hotspots. He also attends brothels in an area known for its brothels having men for hire.
Dorian, thinking about how Basil’s affection and good nature could have saved him:
The love that he bore him — for it was really love — had nothing in it that was not noble and intellectual. It was not that mere physical admiration of beauty that is born of the senses and that dies when the senses tire. It was such love as Michael Angelo had known, and Montaigne, and Winckelmann, and Shakespeare himself. Yes, Basil could have saved him.
All the men named had homosexual relationships, and Wilde knew this. Compare with Wilde’s speech, in court, for the crime of homosexuality:
“The love that dare not speak its name” in this century is such a great affection of an elder for a younger man as there was between David and Jonathan, such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy, and such as you find in the sonnets of Michelangelo and Shakespeare. It is that deep spiritual affection that is as pure as it is perfect. It dictates and pervades great works of art, like those of Shakespeare and Michelangelo, and those two letters of mine, such as they are. It is in this century misunderstood, so much misunderstood that it may be described as “the love that dare not speak its name”, and on that account of it I am placed where I am now. It is beautiful, it is fine, it is the noblest form of affection. There is nothing unnatural about it. It is intellectual, and it repeatedly exists between an older and a younger man, when the older man has intellect, and the younger man has all the joy, hope, and glamour of life before him. That it should be so, the world does not understand. The world mocks at it, and sometimes puts one in the pillory for it.
(It’s worth noting that while Wilde does emphasise the younger and older men being in a relationship together, he’s not talking about paedophilia: Dorian is 20 when the story begins, and Henry 30. Basil’s age is unknown but he and Henry are simoultaneously called “young”, so he is probably between the two in age.)
This speech of Wilde’s, pretty much, sums up the relationship of Dorian with the combination of Basil and Henry. In the first chapters, Dorian does have “all the joy, hope, and glamour of life before him”. References to some of the same men not only continue to show parallels between these passages but make it absolutely undebatable that Wilde was saying Basil was gay. The similar use of the words “noble” and “intellectual”, all of it.
Dorian Gray is arguing on behalf of homosexuality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Antisemitism, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicide, and Drug use
Minor: Sexism
emily_koopmann's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
berufsgrantler's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ENGLISH:
Oh, this book... Another entry in the category "Very good, but don't read it!". Shocking how someone so young and naive can be led to throw his whole code of ethics over board, while having no hope of pulling his neck out of the hangmans noose; allthe more when one is in fear of endling like that and being forced to betray ones own principles, by eliminating all choice to do better. For all the people suffering from mid- or quarterlife crisis, this should be an especially hard read.
And alas Lord Henry, he's just such a charming bastard, one could say he's the quintessence of the cur ;)
DEUTSCH:
Hach, dieses Buch... Wiedermal ein Fall für die Kategorie "Sehr gut, aber lies es nicht!". Schockierend wie jemand so junges und naives so moralisch verfallen kann und sich nicht aus der Schlinge zu winden mag, die sich langsam zuzieht; umso mehr wenn man selbst Angst hat schließlich so zu Enden und man doch irgendwann seine moralischen Prinzipien verraten muss, weil einem die Wahl genommen wurde. Besonders harte Lektüre für die Mid- und Quarterlife-Crisis.
Ach und Lord Henry, dieser schmierig, gewitzte Bastard, man könnte fast meinen er sei des Pudels Kern ;)
Oh, this book... Another entry in the category "Very good, but don't read it!". Shocking how someone so young and naive can be led to throw his whole code of ethics over board, while having no hope of pulling his neck out of the hangmans noose; allthe more when one is in fear of endling like that and being forced to betray ones own principles, by eliminating all choice to do better. For all the people suffering from mid- or quarterlife crisis, this should be an especially hard read.
And alas Lord Henry, he's just such a charming bastard, one could say he's the quintessence of the cur ;)
DEUTSCH:
Hach, dieses Buch... Wiedermal ein Fall für die Kategorie "Sehr gut, aber lies es nicht!". Schockierend wie jemand so junges und naives so moralisch verfallen kann und sich nicht aus der Schlinge zu winden mag, die sich langsam zuzieht; umso mehr wenn man selbst Angst hat schließlich so zu Enden und man doch irgendwann seine moralischen Prinzipien verraten muss, weil einem die Wahl genommen wurde. Besonders harte Lektüre für die Mid- und Quarterlife-Crisis.
Ach und Lord Henry, dieser schmierig, gewitzte Bastard, man könnte fast meinen er sei des Pudels Kern ;)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Blood
Minor: Addiction and Sexism
adrionmacaron's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Suicide
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Misogyny, Death, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Drug abuse, and Racial slurs
mickymouse_007's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
so... this was certainly quite a read. thats all that i can say
okay maybe not. I have a lot to say but i just dont know how to say it.
I hated Dorian Gray from the middle of the book to the last page with my everything and that's something i am proud of. However, i still pitied him. It must be horrid to see your soul but thats definitely no excuse for his behavour. like how do you excuse murder?
on that point, i did not see basil's murder or the end coming up. so glad no one ruined for me.
chapter 11 was lengthy but beautifully written. the book is a work of art.
I don't know how i feel about lord henry. i dont hate him.. i just dont like him i guess
loved the book. definitely recommend it (especially you are a highschool english student because there is so many beautiful phrases you can take inspiration from)
okay maybe not. I have a lot to say but i just dont know how to say it.
I hated Dorian Gray from the middle of the book to the last page with my everything and that's something i am proud of. However, i still pitied him. It must be horrid to see your soul but thats definitely no excuse for his behavour. like how do you excuse murder?
on that point, i did not see basil's murder or the end coming up. so glad no one ruined for me.
chapter 11 was lengthy but beautifully written. the book is a work of art.
I don't know how i feel about lord henry. i dont hate him.. i just dont like him i guess
loved the book. definitely recommend it (especially you are a highschool english student because there is so many beautiful phrases you can take inspiration from)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Sexism, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
grace_cr1's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Racism, Sexism, Classism, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Violence