Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

38 reviews

brnineworms's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

4.0

I knew of Oscar Wilde, of course, but this was my first time actually reading his work. I found it difficult not to use the book as a means of analysing its writer. He was known for his wit but was he genuinely clever or just good at appearing clever? Maybe there’s no distinction. Maybe it’s foolish of me to try to judge the character of a man by the work he creates. Wilde himself rebuked the idea that art should be taken as autobiography, that works of fiction reveal something about the writer. Then again, he also wrote in a letter “[The Picture of Dorian Gray] contains much of me in it — Basil Hallward is what I think I am; Lord Henry, what the world thinks of me; Dorian is what I would like to be — in other ages, perhaps.” It’s hard not to read the story as a reflection of its author to some extent.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is so much gayer than I expected. Like, it’s difficult to even describe it as subtext. It’s right there, unmistakable despite careful censorship, from chapter one onwards. I have to admit, this kind of pining, withholding, and hinting at queerness appeals to me far more than the uncomplicated “representation” we tend to see nowadays. I acknowledge literature like this comes from a society in which homosexuality was criminalised and deeply stigmatised – the ambiguity I adore wasn’t just a stylistic choice, it was a necessity – but it resonates with me in a way modern queer media just doesn’t.

The story is dominated by the theme of influence (and its inverse, impressionability). It’s handled well for the most part but I don’t really understand the significance of

the book Lord Henry recommends to Dorian. I know that some scholars identify it as an ode to either The Yellow Book or Huysmans’s Against Nature, and that the idea of a “poisonous book” was accentuated in later editions in response to the controversy surrounding this very novel upon its publication. In other words, I know that Wilde was playing with the idea of an immoral piece of literature corrupting (read: queering) young minds. That said, Dorian is already affected by the picture painted by Basil Hallward and the mirror given to him by Lord Henry, not to mention Lord Henry’s words; the addition of the corrupting book seemed to overcomplicate what was otherwise quite an elegant concept.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is good. I wasn’t blown away by it, but the premise is solid and I was pleasantly surprised by how audaciously queer it is. I can see why it’s considered a classic. Definitely worth a read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Murder, Blood, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Antisemitism, Bullying, Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexism, Alcohol, and Suicide

Minor: Colonisation, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Violence, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Xenophobia

ale15sousa's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.0

I really wanted to like it but I didn't. I almost hate read it (with the help of an audiobook) in hopes of liking it or reaching the good part. I'll probably give it another chance in a few years. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Classism, Fatphobia, Grief, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Antisemitism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Suicide

idlereader's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Suicide, Drug use, and Infidelity

cinthiaurora's review against another edition

dark 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

4.75

The real tragedy of The Picture of Dorian Gray is actually that the most boring character (Lord Henry) speaks throughout most of it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Classism, and Murder

Moderate: Antisemitism, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Infidelity, Suicide, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Stalking

hannahlouise_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-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

5.0

i absolutely adore the way that oscar wilde writes. one of the best novels i’ve read 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, and Body horror

rory_john14's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Blood, Addiction, Antisemitism, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Stalking, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, and Infidelity

Minor: Confinement, Alcoholism, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Grief

crisi_books's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

4.0

4/5 ⭐️

Oscar Wilde is wild and blatantly gay for writing this. The homoerotic undertones were severe and despite its vagueness, it’s honestly a wonder how this ever got published in 1890 with how obviously gay it is.

Is it bad to say I almost hated every character in this book, and yet still really enjoyed it? No? Okay.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fascinating examination of vanity, greed, and all those things that just make you hate people. The prose is mystical and keeps that feel about it that most gothic novels have, which I’ve learned is difficult to read more than a paragraph of when you’re running on four hours of sleep and the sheer force of will.

I could hardly put this book down despite finding it a difficult to read, which says a lot on how gripping and compelling it is. If I put it down for a second it was all I could think about and so I had to pick it back up. Oscar Wilde has wormed his way into my brain and will probably stay there for a solid while.

A lot of the discussions about aestheticism and philosophy do come off as a little preachy (especially bc Henry Wotton can’t help but spew a paragraph about how lovely youth is and other shit every two pages), and there is sexist and misogynistic commentary, but overall it is thought provoking and intriguing.

Oh, Dorian. Poor Dorian. You dumb, dumb boy.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Classism, and Death

Moderate: Gun violence, Gore, Infidelity, Violence, Suicide, and Stalking

evieolive's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.75

Ooh this one had some good quotes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and Murder

Moderate: Drug use and Suicide

Minor: Violence, Infidelity, Blood, Sexism, and Racism

shadereads's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Antisemitism, Death, Suicide, Sexism, Misogyny, and Racism

Minor: Drug use and Infidelity

ambdocksey22's review against another edition

dark 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

4.5

The only reason I am not giving this book 5 stars is because of the racially insensitive language throughout the book. I understand the time that it was written but I hated reading through every passage that contained a slur or some kind of racial hatred. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Antisemitism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence