Thursday, September 10, 2015

The Picture of Dorian Gray Review

Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Author: Oscar Wilde
Rating: 4/5

As per usual, I picked up this book, because my literature class requires me to read a classic. It was suggested to me that I read The Picture of Dorian Gray and, not liking classics all that much (based on ones read in the past), I thought I may as well read one that someone else liked.
I'm surprised in a number of different ways to discover that I actually liked this book. Not only did it incorporate a realistic representation of life during the time period, but it also added a supernatural aspect that kept me interested since the beginning.
The main character is Dorian Gray, a beautiful young man, who is the focus point of many of the other character's lives. Dorian's friend, Basil, takes a great interest in Dorian and frequently asks him to pose for his art. Basil introduces Dorian to Henry, a lord with a rare outlook on life and people. Henry voices his thoughts to Dorian, who soon comes to terms with his mortality and that everything at some point or another will wither away. He realizes that eventually, age will ruin his beauty. Dorian becomes jealous of the painting Basil created and makes a prayer/wish that the painting was the one that would age and decay, while he kept his youth and beauty.
Dorian's life really begins to go downhill when Sybil Vane comes into his life. He goes down paths that he never imaged going down and his life just flipflops.
I love this book, because it gives a great message about life and to be careful what you wish for. It really makes you reevaluate your life and to put everything in prospective. I'm extremely pleased to have read this book and I hope to find another classic I like just as much.

Next I'll be Reading: The Gap of Time by Jeanette Winterson and To Nowhere by C.E. Wilson.

2 comments:

  1. I often find myself not liking these sorts of classics either, but I love this book too. There's just something about it. You might also enjoy Wuthering Heights, though I can't guarantee it.

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    1. Hmm...I'll have to give it a try! Thanks for the recommendation!

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