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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
spoilers for this book and spoilers for the picture of dorian gray ahead
Maybe it's because I read the two books in such close temporal proximity, but I could think of nothing else but how similar this book and The Picture of Dorian Gray are.
A man who is regarded as pure and good(and appears physically/outwardly to represent these traits) has a secret vice that carries the burden of his sins and is the embodiment of his conscience. After a murder committed in a moment of great weakness and after a gradual demoralization and acceptance of sin, they are weakened in their place in society and in their view of themselves. They become inextricably linked to this vice and disgusted by the manifestation of their horrible sins. Their pursuit of hiding the truth only derails them more and leads to the destruction and permanent deformation of their physical self. In this new physical self, they are revealed for their sins to all.
--Note: A friend added something important! There is also the heavy implication that this 'ugly' representation is actually their true self, the natural equilibrium they inevitably return to and the 'attractive' representation is carefully manufactured and in the end, unsustainable.--
Of course, these books were published within a decade of one another. I read the version that contains "other strange tales"!) of Stevenson's, and he seems to carry a consistent theme of morality in his stories. I'm sorry, but if him and Wilde were doing the same thing, Wilde did it a lot better.
Maybe it's because I read the two books in such close temporal proximity, but I could think of nothing else but how similar this book and The Picture of Dorian Gray are.
A man who is regarded as pure and good(and appears physically/outwardly to represent these traits) has a secret vice that carries the burden of his sins and is the embodiment of his conscience. After a murder committed in a moment of great weakness and after a gradual demoralization and acceptance of sin, they are weakened in their place in society and in their view of themselves. They become inextricably linked to this vice and disgusted by the manifestation of their horrible sins. Their pursuit of hiding the truth only derails them more and leads to the destruction and permanent deformation of their physical self. In this new physical self, they are revealed for their sins to all.
--Note: A friend added something important! There is also the heavy implication that this 'ugly' representation is actually their true self, the natural equilibrium they inevitably return to and the 'attractive' representation is carefully manufactured and in the end, unsustainable.--
Of course, these books were published within a decade of one another. I read the version that contains "other strange tales"!) of Stevenson's, and he seems to carry a consistent theme of morality in his stories. I'm sorry, but if him and Wilde were doing the same thing, Wilde did it a lot better.
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Expected more tbh
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Minor: Murder
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
3.5 stars
Loved the plot and enjoyed the Victorian writing style at first. But, as the story continued, the style became more tedious and less charming. A really unnecessary focus on biography over plot, creating a slow pace that wrecks the lovely tension created by the plot itself.
(2nd read-through-for school)
4.5 stars
AHHHHH. so much better to read with a class. I'm writing a 10 page essay on this, there's so much here that I missed the first time. I'm disappointed in myself. Every description can be analyzed to death for multiple meanings; including but not limited to; queer reading, fear of urban growth, destruction of authority, psychoanalysis... The suspenseful, sad endings to Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde's letters were so great, I almost audibly gasped.
Loved the plot and enjoyed the Victorian writing style at first. But, as the story continued, the style became more tedious and less charming. A really unnecessary focus on biography over plot, creating a slow pace that wrecks the lovely tension created by the plot itself.
(2nd read-through-for school)
4.5 stars
AHHHHH. so much better to read with a class. I'm writing a 10 page essay on this, there's so much here that I missed the first time. I'm disappointed in myself. Every description can be analyzed to death for multiple meanings; including but not limited to; queer reading, fear of urban growth, destruction of authority, psychoanalysis... The suspenseful, sad endings to Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde's letters were so great, I almost audibly gasped.
dios mío que ansiedad la última parte ......also yo en mi momento menos esquizofrénico supongo