Thursday, July 07, 2005
'The Picture of Dorian Gray'
Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Author: Oscar Wilde
Author: Oscar Wilde
Genre: Classic
Year of Publication: 1890
Verdict: Excellent read
Caution: For the patient ones only
The novel is set in England in the nineteenth century and it's the story of a young gentleman (can we call him that at the end of the story...I doubt), who is greatly influenced by a man, Lord Henry, who hates the English Society and its hypocrisy. The main character, Dorian Gray nearly escapes being murdered because at the age of forty, he still looks like a twenty year old boy. His boyish charms and his beauty save his life. He is a beautiful boy who has a face that convinces everyone of his innocence and purity. But it is the same beauty that makes him arrogant and gives him a new meaning to his life, self-love. And deeply in love with the realization of how beautiful he is, he makes a wish. A wish that turns him into the most evil, wicked, sinful characters that England ever saw. Its a wish asking for his beauty to never die, of never having to bear the guilt of his sins and instead his portrait be the mirror of his soul. And curiosuly the wish is granted and as time passes by, the portrait which he keeps locked away, bears his sins and all his wrong-doings. It ages as time passes, the mouth gets horrifyingly twisted, lines of old age, of stress, of remorse and guilt appear on his face....
And Dorain continues his deeds that force many reputed men to lead a shameful life. He spoils the lives of many married, unmarried young women and men. They are all equally influenced by him and fall for his charms. And Lord Henry only continues to tell Dorian how its perfectly allright not to feel guilty!
* * * * * * * *
This is the only novel written by Oscar Wilde (he is more known for his short stories) and it's well known for being in a controversy for being capable of demoralizing the society. I would say it has the capacity to do that. It had to be revised and republished. The book is full of epigrams spoken through Lord Henry. He represents his theories in the most credible fashion telling you how its prefectly okay for you to be doing what your mother, life and society taught were wrong. It could almost convince you!
Its certainly not the fast moving thrilling adventurous story where you cant wait to turn the page. You will want to turn the page not to know what happens next in the story but to know what Lord Henry has to tell you about life and to know how Oscar Widle has woven the words into a sentence. To know what fact Henry is going to tell and how he is going to support it that will make you believe his theories. This novel can get out from you...pity, horror, shock, spite and inspiration to write.
Everything about something cannot be good. There are certain parts in the novel that are unnecessary and could bore one, especially because the book requires that one read every sentence to appreciate it. It becomes tedious reading about certain things that are irelevant to the storyline. And the constant philosophy at every corner in the book could tire you. Its a different thing that this philosophy is something that you and I would have never pondered on.
Pick up the book if you are the kind who has patience and time.
# posted by Pooja Subramanya @ 4:19 PM 
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