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A review by jesper_fahey
The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"The soul is a terrible reality. It can be brought, and sold, and bartered away. It can be poisoned, or made perfect."
- Dorian Gray, the Picture of Dorian Gray
Wow. This book was one of, no probably IS the most fascinating thing I've ever read. Everything single line seemed to have hidden innuendos and the writing was absolutely exquisite and poetic, matching the tone perfectly. There are hundreds of beautiful quotes and passages, some of which have become my favourite of all time. The characters were fascinating and (of course) the plot was too.
Following Dorian's journey from a innocent youth to a depraved elder was horrifying in a way that barely ever see. The guilt he felt when his ex-fiancée died was palpable and seeing it dismissed and washed away by the words of Henry was unbelievably frustrating. Wilde turned the traditional story telling technique of good bad character - to good on it's head, leaving the reader with a completely unique experience. All you could do was watch on in stunned horror as things got worse.
"When they entered, they found hanging upon the wall a splendid portrait of their master as they had last seen him, in all the wonder of his exquisite youth and beauty. Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognized who it was."
The ending was, in my opinion, absolutely perfect. In the last chapter I didn't think that Wilde would be able to finish the book in a way the matched the tone and excellence of it. But he absolutely did. While the ending predictable on paper, the actual execution of it was shocking and horrific. It ended the story perfectly and honestly I don't think there could be another ending that suits and ends it as well.
While I'm not sure I enjoyed this book, I was more intrigued reading it then I have been in a long time. Enjoyment doesn't have to be the only reason to read and while it often is for me, I truly think that "The Picture of Dorian Gray" will stay with me for a very long time- if not forever. It's so dense and truly insightful that one could reread it hundreds of times and still gain something new from it. I could tell, even though my literary skills are basically non-existent, that this book is a masterpiece that deserves its spot as a classic. Everyone should read "A Picture of Dorian Gray" once, it has so many fascinating themes and ideas that there's no way one couldn't gain something from it.
- Dorian Gray, the Picture of Dorian Gray
Wow. This book was one of, no probably IS the most fascinating thing I've ever read. Everything single line seemed to have hidden innuendos and the writing was absolutely exquisite and poetic, matching the tone perfectly. There are hundreds of beautiful quotes and passages, some of which have become my favourite of all time. The characters were fascinating and (of course) the plot was too.
"When they entered, they found hanging upon the wall a splendid portrait of their master as they had last seen him, in all the wonder of his exquisite youth and beauty. Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognized who it was."
The ending was, in my opinion, absolutely perfect. In the last chapter I didn't think that Wilde would be able to finish the book in a way the matched the tone and excellence of it. But he absolutely did. While the ending predictable on paper, the actual execution of it was shocking and horrific. It ended the story perfectly and honestly I don't think there could be another ending that suits and ends it as well.
While I'm not sure I enjoyed this book, I was more intrigued reading it then I have been in a long time. Enjoyment doesn't have to be the only reason to read and while it often is for me, I truly think that "The Picture of Dorian Gray" will stay with me for a very long time- if not forever. It's so dense and truly insightful that one could reread it hundreds of times and still gain something new from it. I could tell, even though my literary skills are basically non-existent, that this book is a masterpiece that deserves its spot as a classic. Everyone should read "A Picture of Dorian Gray" once, it has so many fascinating themes and ideas that there's no way one couldn't gain something from it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Suicide