Reviews

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

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arugulalover's review against another edition

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dark funny medium-paced

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

5.0

bluegreypetals's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

3.5

bazayas's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

After having his portrait painted and his ego inflated by the artist and his worldly aristocratic friend, handsome youth Dorian Gray wishes that he will stay young forever and the portrait would age and change instead. Dorian lives a hedonistic life staying beautiful, while the portrait he has hidden away grows uglier and more decrepit.

Finally read this after starting it many years ago. It’s purple prose and Victorian melodrama, so not my favorite - the entire chapter listing every single hobby Dorian takes up between ages 20 and 38 was a chore. It is creepy and a great premise - it’s wild that no one has done an accurate film version because it has so much potential, especially with some of the back and forth dialogue. The constant monologues are more suited to a play. Also would love to see the story uncensored overall.

CW/TW:

racism; antisemitism; misogyny; classism; murder; suicide; drug addiction/usage

For fans of:

Victorian Gothic vibes; melodrama; drama queen protagonists; philosophic monologues; subtle yearning; The Secret History (TPODG walked so TSH could run)

loeeee's review against another edition

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dnf at 65%

itulsian's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes

5.0

meekoh's review against another edition

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5.0

Oscar Wilde shifts from philosophical monologues to blood-spurting dark fantasy in an instant, and I love it. Sure, it can be self-indulgent and pretentious at times, but he is a talented enough writer for me to enthusiastically jump aboard.

This allegorical tale is packed with social commentary but leaves space for personal interpretation, ensuring it sparks lively debates. I recommend this classic if you enjoyed The Secret History or The Tell Tale Heart.

While reading The Picture of Dorian Gray, it is impossible to miss the parallels between Wilde’s life and his fictional narrative. Wilde lived in a Victorian society which required him to hide the deepest parts of himself. However, great art has a tendency to unwittingly bear part of the artist's soul (as discussed in the opening chapter of this book). Herein lies Wilde's dilemma, how to create great art without exposing his truth? In 1895, Wilde was convicted of "gross indecency". This book was used as evidence against him.