Scan barcode
A review by leannarapier
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
4.0
“I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.”—Ecclesiastes 2:1
The Picture of Dorian Gray is like a dramatization of the book of Ecclesiastes. Dorian Gray, spurred by the words of his friend Lord Henry, lives his life like Solomon and withheld not his heart from any joy. Only, he keeps outwardly the vitality of youth. All the burdens of his sins, selfishness, and thoughtless perverting of others for his own pleasure are borne by a portrait of himself painted by Basil Hallward when Dorian was young.
It’s hard to decide who I dislike more: Dorian Gray, who lived the most thoughtless life, and his only remorse was for himself and never those he harmed; or Lord Henry, and his constant flippant remarks that led Dorian astray. Though Lord Henry speaks carelessly in praise of the most vile sentiments, he never seems to act them out for the most part, and one can’t help but wonder if he really believes it or is just too cowardly to live out his beliefs. He seems mostly to have a perverse pleasure in making shocking statements. Dorian, however, takes to heart Lord Henry’s every word, living every sentiment Lord Henry expresses.
I only have two complaints of the book.
1) Chapter 11 is far too long. Lord Henry gives Dorian a book that Dorian bases his life after—as though a Bible from the devil himself. It takes us “quickly” through the years of Dorian’s debauchery, which I would be fine with except it doesn’t do it quickly, but rather the author seems to have fallen in love with his own “voice” and drones on in superfluous and flowery prose. It was the only part of the book that bored me.
2) The book ended too suddenly. Dorian met a fitting end, but I felt that Lord Henry ought also to have been held accountable. I would have liked to have him see Dorian at the end and the fruit that his vain philosophies wrought in Dorian’s life. Would it have made a difference to Lord Henry? Would he have gone on speaking so carelessly or would his conscience have pricked him? It would have been satisfying to see Lord Henry brought to some level of shame for his part in Dorian’s life.
As a whole, the book is a masterful warning of the results of living a life in selfish pursuits, but it’s hard to say it’s enjoyable. It’s like Mr. Hyde without Dr. Jekyll.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”—Mark 8:36
The Picture of Dorian Gray is like a dramatization of the book of Ecclesiastes. Dorian Gray, spurred by the words of his friend Lord Henry, lives his life like Solomon and withheld not his heart from any joy. Only, he keeps outwardly the vitality of youth. All the burdens of his sins, selfishness, and thoughtless perverting of others for his own pleasure are borne by a portrait of himself painted by Basil Hallward when Dorian was young.
It’s hard to decide who I dislike more: Dorian Gray, who lived the most thoughtless life, and his only remorse was for himself and never those he harmed; or Lord Henry, and his constant flippant remarks that led Dorian astray. Though Lord Henry speaks carelessly in praise of the most vile sentiments, he never seems to act them out for the most part, and one can’t help but wonder if he really believes it or is just too cowardly to live out his beliefs. He seems mostly to have a perverse pleasure in making shocking statements. Dorian, however, takes to heart Lord Henry’s every word, living every sentiment Lord Henry expresses.
I only have two complaints of the book.
1) Chapter 11 is far too long. Lord Henry gives Dorian a book that Dorian bases his life after—as though a Bible from the devil himself. It takes us “quickly” through the years of Dorian’s debauchery, which I would be fine with except it doesn’t do it quickly, but rather the author seems to have fallen in love with his own “voice” and drones on in superfluous and flowery prose. It was the only part of the book that bored me.
2) The book ended too suddenly. Dorian met a fitting end, but I felt that Lord Henry ought also to have been held accountable. I would have liked to have him see Dorian at the end and the fruit that his vain philosophies wrought in Dorian’s life. Would it have made a difference to Lord Henry? Would he have gone on speaking so carelessly or would his conscience have pricked him? It would have been satisfying to see Lord Henry brought to some level of shame for his part in Dorian’s life.
As a whole, the book is a masterful warning of the results of living a life in selfish pursuits, but it’s hard to say it’s enjoyable. It’s like Mr. Hyde without Dr. Jekyll.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”—Mark 8:36