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ecclesias's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
1.0
martwecheci's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
libritis's review against another edition
dark
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
2.0
a veces los clásicos son un c*ñazo
carolineperry_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
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
4.0
battyboop's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
kevionna's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
2.5
berrycedar's review against another edition
5.0
The picture of Dorian Gray
To start off, I just have to say “the picture of dorian gray” is an amazing read. The writing style is fabulous and Wilde truly has made “good art’ with this novel.
While reading TPDG, I couldn’t help but notice that it really is a very very long drama and not a novel. Oscar Wilde’s infatuation with the “Elizabethan period” drama is visible. His characters are upper class people, unlike the regular-society people associated with the novel. This novel is filled with Shakespeare/Marlowe kind of characters. There’s dramatic irony, personification, imagery and symbolism of the highest level and the characters eke their lives only towards doom courtesy of their own actions.
This novel starts off by giving us a picture of what is to become of our protagonist from the very start. What I mean to say is this: I see Lord Henry as a personification of the immorality that is incumbent upon Dorian and the picture of Dorian Gray is the soul of Dorian Gray. Wilde introduces us to the character and the soul of our protagonist much before his actual entry in the story. In a way, Dorian Gray is just the vessel that carries Lord Henry. As Henry’s influence over Dorian grows, his soul- the picture shows it to us.
This novel is highly misogynistic, classist, racist all at once. Going by Wilde’s own standards of judging an artwork (judge an art by how it’s expresses and not by what the subject is), it’ll escape the criticism it deserves. However, reading the second last chapter throws light on why he adopts such a stance (of stereotyping). Paraphrasing Wilde: the society only deems an artwork as immoral when it is a reflection of what is going on in the society. This single statement, I believe, redeems Wilde from the accusations as it would seem that he is trying to actually portray/criticise the society.
My favourite chapter by far was the one involving the quick round of retorts with the Duchess, Lord Henry and Dorian. It provided a nice change of pace from the irritating passages involving Lord Henry charming everyone with his self-impression of being better than others. Finally, it would seem Lord Henry’s ego has met a match. It would have been better if such situations were present in more abundance.
Lord Henry is by far the most irritating character I have ever come across in my whole journey of literature. His smugness and the requirement to quip after everything anyone says; imagine meeting such a person in real life and you’ll understand why I hate him. I don’t know what kind of character Wilde was trying to create with Lord Henry but it felt to me like he put forward some points which I could agree on albeit there wasn’t exactly a cornucopia of such statements.
Overall I think this is a really really enjoyable novel and now I have earned the right to read something more relaxed and light than this.
To start off, I just have to say “the picture of dorian gray” is an amazing read. The writing style is fabulous and Wilde truly has made “good art’ with this novel.
While reading TPDG, I couldn’t help but notice that it really is a very very long drama and not a novel. Oscar Wilde’s infatuation with the “Elizabethan period” drama is visible. His characters are upper class people, unlike the regular-society people associated with the novel. This novel is filled with Shakespeare/Marlowe kind of characters. There’s dramatic irony, personification, imagery and symbolism of the highest level and the characters eke their lives only towards doom courtesy of their own actions.
This novel starts off by giving us a picture of what is to become of our protagonist from the very start. What I mean to say is this: I see Lord Henry as a personification of the immorality that is incumbent upon Dorian and the picture of Dorian Gray is the soul of Dorian Gray. Wilde introduces us to the character and the soul of our protagonist much before his actual entry in the story. In a way, Dorian Gray is just the vessel that carries Lord Henry. As Henry’s influence over Dorian grows, his soul- the picture shows it to us.
This novel is highly misogynistic, classist, racist all at once. Going by Wilde’s own standards of judging an artwork (judge an art by how it’s expresses and not by what the subject is), it’ll escape the criticism it deserves. However, reading the second last chapter throws light on why he adopts such a stance (of stereotyping). Paraphrasing Wilde: the society only deems an artwork as immoral when it is a reflection of what is going on in the society. This single statement, I believe, redeems Wilde from the accusations as it would seem that he is trying to actually portray/criticise the society.
My favourite chapter by far was the one involving the quick round of retorts with the Duchess, Lord Henry and Dorian. It provided a nice change of pace from the irritating passages involving Lord Henry charming everyone with his self-impression of being better than others. Finally, it would seem Lord Henry’s ego has met a match. It would have been better if such situations were present in more abundance.
Lord Henry is by far the most irritating character I have ever come across in my whole journey of literature. His smugness and the requirement to quip after everything anyone says; imagine meeting such a person in real life and you’ll understand why I hate him. I don’t know what kind of character Wilde was trying to create with Lord Henry but it felt to me like he put forward some points which I could agree on albeit there wasn’t exactly a cornucopia of such statements.
Overall I think this is a really really enjoyable novel and now I have earned the right to read something more relaxed and light than this.
jenhurst's review against another edition
5.0
I'm sure many people have heard of this story. Dorian Grey is an incredibly vain man who gets the perfect self-portrait of himself made. He realizes how attractive he is and makes a deal with the devil, where he stays young forever. Instead of him aging, his portrait ages and anytime he does something awful it's reflected in the photo. Dorian becomes increasingly awful as it goes on (obviously) because he doesn't have to face the consequences.
I loved this novel so much, and it made me question why I don't read more classics! I loved the writing, the concept and where the story went. I think its a great character study and Dorian Grey is a very interesting character. It shows the effects of vanity/beauty and people don't believe someone so beautiful could commit such atrocities. People don't expect him to be bad because he's a beautiful person. I liked how it explored the idea that beauty should not be the main focus or what people are known for. It's a classic horror novel and it's stood the test of time for a reason. Had this been published today, I don't think it would've had the same controversy had it been published today, but with saying that I think that is partly because he did it first.
This has to be one of my favourite classics and horror novels that I've ever read. I honestly couldn't put it down. You could see that Oscar Wilde put a lot of himself in the novel as well and I think those parts were fascinating. There's so many themes and ideas in the story that you could talk about for a long time. I think this is part of what makes the book so interesting.
5/5 stars.
I think this is a great entry way to classics, since its fast-paced (for a classic) and the writing is very accessible. If you like horrors it's a great one to check out as well.
I loved this novel so much, and it made me question why I don't read more classics! I loved the writing, the concept and where the story went. I think its a great character study and Dorian Grey is a very interesting character. It shows the effects of vanity/beauty and people don't believe someone so beautiful could commit such atrocities. People don't expect him to be bad because he's a beautiful person. I liked how it explored the idea that beauty should not be the main focus or what people are known for. It's a classic horror novel and it's stood the test of time for a reason. Had this been published today, I don't think it would've had the same controversy had it been published today, but with saying that I think that is partly because he did it first.
This has to be one of my favourite classics and horror novels that I've ever read. I honestly couldn't put it down. You could see that Oscar Wilde put a lot of himself in the novel as well and I think those parts were fascinating. There's so many themes and ideas in the story that you could talk about for a long time. I think this is part of what makes the book so interesting.
5/5 stars.
I think this is a great entry way to classics, since its fast-paced (for a classic) and the writing is very accessible. If you like horrors it's a great one to check out as well.