Book Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray

This is Oscar Wilde's first and only novel, and is pretty much one of the greatest books I have ever read. Definitely in the top 5. I took it out from my sister's drawer just because classic Vintage books seemed alluring in its own way (if you want to make me fall for you just buy me a couple of Penguin books). So I started reading it, and obviously as a first time reader of Wilde's published work (aside from his poems), I was taken aback at the intensity of his words. This book, written in 1890, stirred something in me. 

Let's get to it:

Dorian Gray is the most handsome boy the world has ever seen, and he is nearly on the cusp of adulthood. Basil Hallward paints a portrait of Dorian, his ultimate muse, and gives it to him. In the studio, Basil introduces him to his close friend, Lord Henry "Harry" Wotton, who is a brilliant and hedonistic man. After sharing his worldview, Dorian realizes that beauty is the ultimate gift in life, and as he looks at the now finished painting of himself, says he would rather the painting age and to let him keep his youth. Dorian then falls in love with Sibyl Vane, a young and beautiful actress with a protective older brother, and wishes to marry her. But once Sibyl performs dreadfully, Dorian calls the wedding off, and Sibyl commits suicide. When he returns home, he notices his portrait has changed —his face has a subtle sneer to it. He realizes his wish had come true, and that the painting will bear all his transgressions and old age. 18 years later, Dorian has led a sinful life as he experiments with every vice, and yet he has not aged a day since the painting. One day, Basil visits him to confront Dorian about the rumors of his debauchery, and Dorian does not deny them. Instead, he shows Basil the portrait of him, now covered and locked up in the attic. Basil looks in disbelief at the wrinkly, ugly and menacing picture of Dorian he painted nearly two decades before. Dorian blames Basil for the ill-fated life he has lead, and stabs Basil with a knife. A day later, he blackmails his old friend, a chemist, into destroying Basil's body which was still in the attic. A few days later, when Dorian was walking around an opium den, two women called him 'Prince Charming', a nickname that Sibyl used for him instead of his real identity. Hearing this, Sibyl's brother, James, threatens to kill him. Dorian fools James into thinking that he is too young to have killed his sister 18 years before, and Dorian leaves the scene. But the two women tell James that Dorian has not aged a day for 18 years, and so begins his hunt. After seeing James in his window, Dorian starts to fear for his life. But during a game-shooting party in Dorian's household, James was shot as he was hiding in the woods. Slowly, Dorian tries to live a moral life, but when he looks at his portrait again, it was even worse. So in rage, he takes a knife and stabs the painting. His servants here a cry from inside the locked room, and after breaking in, discovers an old mangled body, withered and terrible. It was only through his rings that they were able to identify him, and beside him, the portrait has reverted to its original form.

If you don't think that's the most fucking bad ass plot in all of history then you are dead wrong, my friend. The plot, although simple, was delivered in the most fascinating way. I think it has more to do with the way the characters share their world view about things, especially Lord Harry, who I love. 

This is the most quotable book I've ever read. A few pages in and I've already found a handful of quotes I wish to add to my collection. But as I kept reading, I realized that this book is literally the smartest book ever. The characters explain their thoughts and beliefs in a way that changes yours. The beliefs are backed up with such power that I couldn't help but blindly agree with everything Lord Harry says. It opened my eyes to new theories about life, love, women, men, everything, really. And it's rare for me to find a book that could generate enough influence over me.

The fact that this book was written in 1890 should not deter you from reading. On the contrary, this book is so terribly modern that I was surprised at how easily I understood and related to the problems of their time. The language used, although funnily formal, was easy enough for me to understand, although Oscar Wilde's style of writing is pretty difficult in itself. Let's just say that if you don't like to read, don't even bother with this. It's thin and might look like a light read, but you have to really love the written word to be able to appreciate and enjoy this book.

If you want a glimpse of what this book holds, here you go:

"There is no such thing as good influence, Mr. Gray. All influence is immoral - immoral from the scientific point of view."

"Why?"

"Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of some one else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him. The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly - that is what each of us is here for. People are afraid of themselves, nowadays. They have forgotten the highest of all duties, the duty that one owes to oneself. Of course they are charitable. They feed the hungry, and clothe the beggar. But their own souls starve and are naked. Courage has gone out of our race. Perhaps we never really had it. The terror of society, which is the basis of morals, the terror of  God, which is the secret of religions - these are the two things that govern us."

Funny you should say that, Lord Harry, because you have been such a good influence over me. 

I give this a 9.4/10. It's an absolutely incredible piece of literature that was greeted with outrage once initially published, with some British reviewers saying that Wilde should be prosecuted on moral grounds. I suggest book lovers to read this, as I have never encountered any work like this. If you think the plot is interesting, try watching the 1945 film based on the book, not the 2009 one.