"The Picture of Dorian Gray" has always been a book that I have wanted to read. In fourth grade I read the words written on the page without reading the book. I was too young and too eager to show off my fast reading skills to understand and follow what was occurring in this novel. I always told myself that when I finished the book I was reading at the time, I was going to read the "Picture of Dorian Gray" next, but something always occurred that kept me from fulfilling that goal. When I found out that one of the |
requirements for Humanities Honors Second Semester was to read a novel written in the 19th century or before, I realized that there were no more excuses; I was finally going to read this book.
Now, to actually talk about the book; it is an amazing piece. Wilde wastes no time in getting straight to the point, with the book opening with Basil Hallward socializing with his friend Lord Henry Wotton, as he works on the final touches of his portrait of Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray is an indescribably handsome young fellow whose unparalleled beauty and persona have captivated Basil, and pushed him to produce his ultimate masterpiece; his portrait of Dorian Gray. Once Dorian understands the magnificence of his beauty (thanks to Basil's painting and ill advice from Lord Henry), he makes a horrible wish that eventually comes back to haunt him.
The writing is incredibly poetic, rich with elaborate vocabulary and tantalizing descriptions of moral and social dilemmas that the characters discuss. The characters also go through elaborate transformations; some for the better, some for the worse. The main character, Dorian Gray, is clearly very intelligent, very handsome, very wealthy, and very intuitive; all in all, the picture perfect man that you would want your daughter to marry. His flaws, however, are few but weighty. He is too easily manipulated by the art of beautiful speech, and is a constant slave to his beauty, never escaping the blindness he causes for himself.
The character of Henry Wotton reminds me a lot of Francis Underwood from "House of Cards" for his innate ability to corrupt others and succumb them to his will with nothing but his voice and choice of words. I think he is the kind of person that would describe himself as a dangerous enemy, but an even more dangerous friend. His dialogues are extremely captivating, even though they are quite long. His character lives for paradoxes, and views the lives and experiences of others as "experiments," whom he observes with a scientific like interests as he tries to confirm or disprove his theories about life, society, and existence.
Ten chapters in, I am engrossed with the book, because more than anything else, the writing is so alluring, elegant and graceful. Right now, the wrong Grey is getting the international attention (I'm looking at you, "Fifty Shades of Grey"). I am absolutely looking forward to continuing to read this book.
Now, to actually talk about the book; it is an amazing piece. Wilde wastes no time in getting straight to the point, with the book opening with Basil Hallward socializing with his friend Lord Henry Wotton, as he works on the final touches of his portrait of Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray is an indescribably handsome young fellow whose unparalleled beauty and persona have captivated Basil, and pushed him to produce his ultimate masterpiece; his portrait of Dorian Gray. Once Dorian understands the magnificence of his beauty (thanks to Basil's painting and ill advice from Lord Henry), he makes a horrible wish that eventually comes back to haunt him.
The writing is incredibly poetic, rich with elaborate vocabulary and tantalizing descriptions of moral and social dilemmas that the characters discuss. The characters also go through elaborate transformations; some for the better, some for the worse. The main character, Dorian Gray, is clearly very intelligent, very handsome, very wealthy, and very intuitive; all in all, the picture perfect man that you would want your daughter to marry. His flaws, however, are few but weighty. He is too easily manipulated by the art of beautiful speech, and is a constant slave to his beauty, never escaping the blindness he causes for himself.
The character of Henry Wotton reminds me a lot of Francis Underwood from "House of Cards" for his innate ability to corrupt others and succumb them to his will with nothing but his voice and choice of words. I think he is the kind of person that would describe himself as a dangerous enemy, but an even more dangerous friend. His dialogues are extremely captivating, even though they are quite long. His character lives for paradoxes, and views the lives and experiences of others as "experiments," whom he observes with a scientific like interests as he tries to confirm or disprove his theories about life, society, and existence.
Ten chapters in, I am engrossed with the book, because more than anything else, the writing is so alluring, elegant and graceful. Right now, the wrong Grey is getting the international attention (I'm looking at you, "Fifty Shades of Grey"). I am absolutely looking forward to continuing to read this book.