Oscar Wilde’s only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray is a timeless classic and very fun read. Part Gothic tale, part morality lesson, part social commentary, Dorian Gray has a little something for everyone, and certainly a lesson to be learned about the pitfalls of vanity.
Young Dorian Gray sits for painter Basil Hallward, who puts his all into the portrait of his friend. Upon seeing the completed picture, Dorian Gray is overcome with vanity – is he really that strikingly handsome? He immediately makes wish that becomes a pact with the devil: his soul for the chance to stay forever young. We all know the story, made famous by the 1945 Hollywood movie, where the image in the portrait ages while real-life Dorian Gray stays youthful, untouched by time.
Perhaps it is his loss of soul that results in Dorian Gray developing rather questionable morals. Perhaps it is merely the influence of the men he chooses to surround himself with, like the irascible Lord Henry “Harry” Wotton. Whatever it is, all of Dorian Gray’s deeds show themselves in the twisted, evil visage of the portrait, but mars not his youthful, golden-locked self.
Conscience is an interesting thing. One can never seem to escape it and for all Dorian’s pleasure-taking in his evil ways, he can never truly escape the ugliness his life has become because he can never escape his portrait. It haunts him, as does its possible discovery by servants, or anyone who enters his house.
In the end, desperate to destroy the albatross the painting has become, he inevitably destroys himself.
A fascinating read, one I very much enjoyed on a sunny, lazy, vacation afternoon.
Till next time, happy reading!
L :)
| TBR = 9 | WPL = 23 |
No comments:
Post a Comment