The Picture of Dorian Gray

<i>The Picture of Dorian Gray</i> is the masterpiece of Oscar Wilde. It is a classic fiction written in the Victorian Age. This book had always been praised and I believe that it is “classic” for a reason. I think the reason this book could be famous and praised for decades was that it was not a simple fiction or horror story; it deals with moral issue, talked about the darkest secret in people’s heart, discussed art, and criticized the society. Every character in the novel was vivid and well-rounded. Even after hundreds of years, the issue stated in the book is still not outdated.</p>Do you want to live forever young? Do you wish to do whatever you want and don’t have to worry about the consequences? It is so hard to say no. As an ordinary human being, I totally understand why Dorian Gray made the wish that let the painting took all his sin. One thing I like the most about this novel is the way Oscar Wilde tell the story and his wording. Actually, Oscar Wilde had always been praised for his use of language- skillful, masterly, and appropriately. I like when the story was moving forward, it get tenser, crazier, faster, and more ridiculous. But I love that when I look back to the story, I would realize that nothing was too tense, too crazy, too fast, or ridiculous. Everything was reasonable- it was Dorian Gray’s choice. </p>Moreover, I think Oscar Wilde, one of my favorite writers, put numerous of his own thoughts of the society into this novel. He lived in the Victorian Age. He hated how the society had a stereotype on men, on sons, and on students. When he was young, although he was talented on writing, he was teased for wearing flatulent clothes and his passion for love and beauty. Was he wrong to do what he wanted? It is easy for us to say he wasn’t. But at that Age, he really suffered. In <i>The Picture of Dorian Gray</i>, the conflict between Lord Henry Wotton and Basil symbolized the divergence between “breaking the rules” and “be accepted by the society”. I always feel that Oscar Wilde has an anachronistic soul. The biggest problem for me to read this novel is that it has features of that era, which is somehow hard for me to understand. But overall, <i>The Picture of Dorian Gray</i> is still, absolutely, one of my favorite book of all time.</p>

This is one of the most 'different' books that I have read, that dwells a lot on privileges of the upper class using Oscar Wilde's 'libertarian' approach to life. It took me a few chapters to get into Wild's 'dense' writing style. Nothing is cut and dried and Wilde takes any ideas, philosophies, outlooks on life about three degrees farther than anybody else I've read. It's a good exercise in looking at things differently with a fresh outlook. But being Oscar Wilde EVERYTHING is carried to the max. If everybody had Wilde's eloquence, intellect and wit, I doubt that anything would ever get done in the 'real' world. Excellent read though, and a good lesson on how NOT to spend your life, whatever your station.

Oh man I love this book. There are a few problems with the print but not too many to get distracted from the story. The characters are fully developed and if you love imagery then this book is for you. Oscar Wilde paints a beautifully ugly story and I can say that I very much dislike Lord Henry but he is important to the story. This book makes you think and has a sort of dark hue around all of the beautiful scenery.

Picture of Dorian Grey ReviewIn reading the novel The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, I became simultaneously enthralled in the life and world of Dorian Grey and and disdainful for the time period in which it was written. Focussing more on the core of the story, the way in which Wilde approaches the ideas of beauty and morality are poignant even today. Lord Henry introduces Dorian to the hedonistic view that one should love and worship one’s own youthful beauty while they can, which is then interpreted a bit more darkly in the book as that one’s good looks are the only thing that matter. A lot of the social commentary, however, can seem very much “of the time” to say the least. There is a pretty offensive depiction of a jewish pit conductor who traps actors in debt. Along with this, there are many misogynistic depictions of women, portraying them as two-faced liars and dead-weights to man’s superior virtue and whatnot. Also, not gonna spoil it, but I saw the ending coming from a mile away. Regardless, when not bigoted, the ideas that the book espouses are grand in scale and very interesting. I’d give it a solid 7.8/10.

One of my professors in grad school went on and on about this book but I haven't had time to read it until after I graduated and it was worth the wait! Thank you Oscar Wilde, your writing is superb, your story telling is elegant and engrossing, and your characters are extremely real. I will be keeping this book and am sure to be re-reading in the future.

I can’t wait to get into this book, i’ve heard quite a bit about it so I had to get it.

This is by far the best horror story ever written. The writing is absolutely timeless. When I got to the end I slammed it down onto my desk at work and said "that was amazing!!!"

i didn't really like the layout

Great read for those who enjoy books like these... If you don’t know what type of book this is, than it’s most certainly not for you.

The cover is really nice! Great shipping

Bought this for my friend, she enjoyed the book. I ended up getting this also from another friend a few months later and I also enjoyed it! This book makes you think in a very deep way.

i love this boook. it is a well written novel by oscar wilde. I loved the book and i would totally recomenend. The only issue i had was that it was not the original cover of the book. definetly a copy.

Enjoyable