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A review by sydneyspangler
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
dark
reflective
slow-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
3.5
This book took me far too long to read, but I'm not going to hold that against it because I've been reading Crooked Kingdom for like three months. I'm just not getting along with reading right now. HOWEVER, I have one major hang-up about this book which is why I didn't like it as much as I expected. It's incredibly anti-Semitic.
In all the talk about the not-so-veiled homoeroticism and fantastic atmosphere of The Picture of Dorian Gray, not once was that brought up. I understand it may have been "normal" back then, but it doesn't mean I have to be comfortable with it. There was a pages long description and take down of a Jewish theatre owner. Then, throughout the novel, unfavorable women were regularly put down for their "hooked noses."
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a good book. I did ultimately enjoy it, but I feel with how much this book is raved about, the anti-Semitism needs to be inserted into the conversation more. Even if it's just as a warning, so it's not as jarring.
In all the talk about the not-so-veiled homoeroticism and fantastic atmosphere of The Picture of Dorian Gray, not once was that brought up. I understand it may have been "normal" back then, but it doesn't mean I have to be comfortable with it. There was a pages long description and take down of a Jewish theatre owner. Then, throughout the novel, unfavorable women were regularly put down for their "hooked noses."
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a good book. I did ultimately enjoy it, but I feel with how much this book is raved about, the anti-Semitism needs to be inserted into the conversation more. Even if it's just as a warning, so it's not as jarring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism