Oscar Wilde: Picture of Dorian Gray (2010, Penguin Books, Limited)
242 pages
Langue : English
Publié 26 février 2010 par Penguin Books, Limited.
A beautiful young man, Dorian Gray, sits for a portrait. In the garden of the artist's house he falls into conversation with Lord Wotton, who convinces him that only beauty is worth pursuing. Gray wishes that his portrait, and not himself, might age and show the effects of time. His wish comes true, and wild, hedonistic pursuits horribly disfigure the portrait. This Faustian story caused much controversy when it was first published, as it discusses decadent art and culture, and homosexuality. It is now considered one of the great pieces of modern Western literature.
Oscar Wilde’s story of a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty is the author’s most popular work. The tale of Dorian Gray’s moral disintegration caused a scandal when it first appeared in 1890, but though Wilde was attacked for the novel’s corrupting influence, he responded that there is, in fact, …
A beautiful young man, Dorian Gray, sits for a portrait. In the garden of the artist's house he falls into conversation with Lord Wotton, who convinces him that only beauty is worth pursuing. Gray wishes that his portrait, and not himself, might age and show the effects of time. His wish comes true, and wild, hedonistic pursuits horribly disfigure the portrait. This Faustian story caused much controversy when it was first published, as it discusses decadent art and culture, and homosexuality. It is now considered one of the great pieces of modern Western literature.
Oscar Wilde’s story of a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty is the author’s most popular work. The tale of Dorian Gray’s moral disintegration caused a scandal when it first appeared in 1890, but though Wilde was attacked for the novel’s corrupting influence, he responded that there is, in fact, “a terrible moral in Dorian Gray.” Just a few years later, the book and the aesthetic/moral dilemma it presented became issues in the trials occasioned by Wilde’s homosexual liaisons, which resulted in his imprisonment.
Of Dorian Gray’s relationship to autobiography, Wilde noted in a letter, “Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.'' --Goodreads
Glad I finally read this one! On the whole really enjoyed it. Lovely prose. Could have really done without the abhorrent antisemitism though.
Beautifully written. However, there was one or two chapters in the middle that devote themselves to talking about Dorian's various fads and passing interests, and while I enjoyed the flowery prose they just meandered uninterestingly and I didn't see how they added to the plot or to the allegory—although it's very likely that I could've just missed the meaning. Other than that though, I really enjoyed it. Wonderful philosophical introspections (including questionable ones by Lord Henry), and a consistent but hidden underlying allegory (although admittedly obvious if you know about Wilde's personal life).
Unrelated, but even if I didn't know Wilde was primarily a playwright I still would've been able to tell because all the dialogue feels like a play rather than a novel.
