The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Hardcover - UK - First edition.

Author Oscar Wilde Published 1891-04-?? Type Fiction Genre Horror Themes Horror, Philosophy Age Group Adult

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel by Oscar Wilde published in April 1891 which uses elements of philosophy and Gothic horror. A novella-length version was published earlier in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in July 1890. The book is now in the public domain. This was the only novel published by Wilde, who focused more on plays and poetry, and, while the book has since become enormously successful, and has been adapted many times, at the time of publication it was criticized for being indecent and homoerotic (despite there not being any overt content). Wilde was later arrested and sent to prison for two years hard labor for the "crime" of being gay, where he suffered life-threatening injures that would eventually contribute to his death a few years after he was released.

The book is about a very attractive young man named Dorian Gray who, while having his portrait painted, is convinced by an aristocrat that youth and beauty is the most important thing in the world, more so even than ethics or wisdom. Upon seeing his finished portrait, Gray feels miserable knowing he will age and become ugly while his portrait will remain beautiful forever. Promising his soul, he wishes the reserve be true, and his wish is granted. As Gray remains young and beautiful for years, his portrait, which he hides in his attic, bears all the age and wear of his life, but more, all the cruel and vile misdeeds Gray commits are incorporated into the painting resulting in a grotesque portrait to match Gray's soul.

Personal

Own?	No.
Read?	Audiobook read by Ben Barnes.
Finished	2024-05-20.

I first heard about The Picture of Dorian Gray when my girlfriend explained its premise to me when I was around 22-years-old. I remember seeing Dorian Gray as a character in the film adaption of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen in 2003. However, it wasn't until many years later that I finally decided to read it.

Review

Overall:

Good

• There are a lot of witty statements made throughout the book and it's very quotable. Also, the vocabulary used is vast, much more than modern books, but it still feels appropriate, never forced.
• Lord Henry Wotton is a properly infuriating villain. He's sexist, bigoted, highly conceited, concerned only with ascetics, and eager to groom younger men to his way of life, and yet, much of what he says has an element of truth.

Bad

• All of the main characters in the book, and several ancillary ones, are entitled undeserving jackasses. Since I was unable to appreciate them, I was interested in them only insofar as they would receive their comeuppance. And, since that never really happened, I found the story to be tedious.
• People in the novel tend to change their lives ludicrously quick. Dorian, after only a few minutes of Lord Henry's influence, switches from being innocent and naive to a narcissistic crybaby and Sybil goes from being a world class actor to a wooden hack simply because she fell in love with someone. These rapid shifts in character aren't very believable and hurt immersion.
• The beliefs of Basil Hallward and Henry Wotton, that a person's mind physically alters their outward appearance (Basil thinks people turn ugly when they sin, Henry says they become disfigured for thinking too much), are not only bigoted, but completely lacking in evidence. I can understand such ridiculousness from Henry, as he thinks he is always right about everything regardless of his ignorance, but Basil is meant to be his ethical foil who seeks to keep Dorian unspoiled, yet his beliefs are just as dangerous. I still wouldn't mind it much if their beliefs were shown to be wrong, but the painting of Dorian solidifies their beliefs rather than contradicts them.
• Wilde goes a bit overboard explaining in great depth how the painting displays the soul of Dorian. It's so overt, it feels like an aside in theatre. He should have drawn this out more and allowed the reader to figure it out on their own.
• There are several characters introduced in the later chapters that don't affect the story at all and seem to have been added just to pad out the novel.

Ugly

• The long explanation of clothes, jewelry, and finery made for the wealthy, followed by their long list of deceits, was a chore to read. A few examples gets the point across, an exhaustive list is exhausting.

Representation

Strong female character?	Fail	While there are a couple female characters who exhibit strength, they're too minor to count.
Bechdel test?	Fail	Sibyl Vane talks to her mother, but it's about Dorian.
Strong person of color character?	Fail	I think everyone in the book is white.
Queer character?	Fail	Despite the book being criticized for homoeroticism, there are not overtly queer characters.

Quotes

— This section contains spoilers! —

• There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.
• There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
• She is a peacock in everything but looks.
• His principles were out of date, but there was a good deal to say about his prejudices.
• Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.
• The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.
• You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit.
• Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.

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