The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Summary

Basil Howard is a painter and he has made his finest art until today. He has painted a portrait of Dorian Gray.

Dorian Gray realizes something shocking after he sees the beautiful portrait – the painting will remain forever young and beautiful but he will grow old and due to this idea he does not like the painting much and wishes he could switch places with it.

Little does he realize that sometimes what we wish for comes true but the consequences are beyond horrifying? So begins the life story of Dorian Grand and his close friendship with Basil and Lord Henry, a notoriously philosophical lord.

My Review

When I pick classics I’m am always unsure if I’ll like them. Because for so many years so many readers have liked them and adored them and spoken lovingly about them that I just think what if I don’t like it and I am disappointed?

Well, not in this case. I was sucked into Dorian’s story from the beginning.  The plot was solid. And beware the story has a few surprises along the way.  And that just makes it so much more interesting. Frankly, I did not expect this story from a classic. But now I truly understand why people love this book and especially Dorian Gray.

The guy has plenty of Grey shades, and he is a character in the negative but you cannot help but feel bad for him. I did feel a little anger towards Lord Henry for influencing him towards the wrong but then realized that it's really up to us whether we do get influenced and whether it’s just that the person wants someone to blame for their behavior.

Final Verdict

All in all the novel did manage to evoke some strong emotions in me towards the characters. And I must say in the times this novel was written it had to be very brave for showing the homosexual angle so openly.

But all my stars in the rating go to the gripping storyline that had me anxious and worrying and shocked and finally feeling sad in the end.

Who Should Read This

Classic lovers and especially those readers that enjoy some poetical prose and a good amount of suspense will love this book.

Top Quotes from The Picture of Dorian Gray

• “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.”

• “Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes.”

• “I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.”

• “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

• “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

• “I am too fond of reading books to care to write them.”

• “Never marry at all, Dorian. Men marry because they are tired, women, because they are curious: both are disappointed.”

• “What of Art?
  -It is a malady.
  --Love?
  -An Illusion.
  --Religion?
  -The fashionable substitute for Belief.
  --You are a sceptic.
  -Never! Skepticism is the beginning of Faith.
  --What are you?
  -To define is to limit.”

• “Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the cave-man had known how to laugh, History would have been different.”