Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

112 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Racism and Suicide

sinaprst's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring 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

4.75

I never thought that I would like this this much, but I am literally as obsessed as Dorian is with his own portrait. 
I would literally sell my soul to be able to read this for the first time again. 
Though at times it was a bit difficult to get through, it was overall just an incredible read and I now want to read everything else Oscar Wilde has ever written. 
Lastly all I have to say is:
- Basil deserved better
- Harry is a piece of shit 
- and I wish it could've been gayer 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Classism, Death, Suicide, Misogyny, Addiction, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Drug use, Gaslighting, Racism, 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

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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

christina_'s review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism and Racism

nadas's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

At long last I read everyone's favourite classic and to be very honest this didn't live up to my expectations eventhough I enjoyed some parts of it. 
This felt like a very long essay about all of Oscar Wilde's ideas with some plot and punchlines sprinkled here and there which got very tiring to read at times even though some of his ideas were interesting. Also everything was waaay too convenient for Dorian which was probably the point but it was just underwhelming sometimes. 
overall; great concept, some parts were pretty fun to read, didn't like the constant philosophical info dumping. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Racism

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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Racism, Sexism, Classism, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Violence

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. 

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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

velokei's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

5.0

This book was beautiful, I adored its writing and it’s incredibly interesting takes on philosophical topics. So many great one liners! I loved Dorian’s development and the ending shocked me and left me feeling so curious for more. Oscar Wilde is an icon. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, Toxic friendship, and Stalking

Minor: Racism

Rip Dorian you would have loved the neighbourhood

aliyachaudhry's review against another edition

dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Murder, Racism, Alcohol, Classism, Death, and Misogyny

Moderate: Drug use

feelinwitchy's review against another edition

dark funny 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

5.0

obsessed obsessed obsessed obsessed

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism, Classism, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Death, Misogyny, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Suicide, Stalking, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Addiction