Oscar Wilde

Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life; indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence. The novel was a succès de scandale and the book was later used as evidence against Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895. It has lost none of its power to fascinate and disturb.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

just Lord Henry trying to build a world inherently based on reason and free of emotion

Cecilie Spangsberg

Art has no influence upon action. It annihilates the desire to act. It is superbly sterile. The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.

Somehow, it feels like this passage is about Wilde and not Gray

It is said that passion makes one think in a circle. Certainly with hideous iteration the bitten lips of Dorian Gray shaped and reshaped those subtle words that dealt with soul and sense, till he had found in them the full expression, as it were, of his mood, and justified, by intellectual approval, passions that without such justification would still have dominated his temper.

he really lived every life possible. apparently one just needs the combination of hyper fixations and generational wealth. 

Yet, after some time he wearied of them, and would sit in his box at the Opera, either alone or with Lord Henry, listening in rapt pleasure to "Tannhäuser', and seeing in the prelude to that great work of art a presentation of the tragedy of his own soul.

clara

All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril.

It was true that as one watched life in its curious crucible of pain and pleasure, one could not wear over one's face a mask of glass, nor keep the sulphurous fumes from troubling the brain, and making the imagination turbid with monstrous fancies and misshapen dreams.

"And what sort of lives do these people, who pose as being moral, lead themselves? My dear fellow, you forget that we are in the native land of the hypocrite."

«The past could always be annihilated. Regret, denial, or forgetfulness could do that. But the future was inevitable. "

There is no such thing as a good influence. 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 virtures are not real to him. His sins, if there are such thing as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of someone else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him.

"Life is a question of nerves, and fibres, and slowly built-up cells in which thought hides itself and passion has its dreams. You may fancy yourself safe and think yourself strong. But a chance tone of colour in a room or a morning sky, a particular perfume that you had once loved and that brings subtle memories with it, a line from a forgotten poem that you had come across again, a cadence from a piece of music that vou had ceased to play... I tell you, that it is on things like these that our lives depend. "

"Words! Mere words! How terrible they were! How clear, and vivid, and cruel! One could not escape from them. And yet what a subtle magic there was in them! They seemed to be able to give a plastic form to formless things, and to have a music of their own as sweet as that of viol or of lute. Mere words! Was there anything so real as words?"

Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one’s mistakes 

The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.

I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.

Sounds like an awfully lonely existence dear Harry

To be good is to be in harmony with one's self he replied, touching the thin stem of his glass with his pale, fine-pointed fingers. Discord is to be forced to be in harmony with others. One's own life - that is the important thing. As for the lives of one's neighbours, if one wishes to be a prig or a Puritan, one can flaunt one's moral views about them, but they are not one's concern. 

The soul is a terrible reality. It can be bought, and sold, and bartered away. It can be poisoned, or made perfect.

Shallow sorrows and shallow loves live on. The loved and sorrows that are great are destroyed by their own plenitude.

It often happens that the real tragedies of life occur in such an inartistic manner that they hurt us by their crude violence, their absolute incoherence, their absurd want of meaning, their entire lack of style.

When we blame ourselves we feel that no one else has a right to blame us. It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.

When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy.

As for a spoiled life, no life is spoiled but one whose growth is arrested. If you want to mar a nature, you have merely to reform it.

The reason we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid for ourselves. The basis of optimism is sheer terror.

It was the passions about whose origin we deceived ourselves that tyrannised most strongly over us. Our weakest motives were those of whose nature we were conscious. It often happened that when we thought we were experimenting on others we were really experimenting on ourselves.

I want the dead lovers of the world to hear our laughter, and grow sad. I want a breath of our passion to stir their dust into consciousness, to wake their ashes into pain.

I can see why it is a well known classic, it shows two sides of life and is very unexpected for a book this old. 

Martyna

This book ranks second on my list of favorite books. The character of Dorian Gray is the personification of naivety transformed into vice. A breathtaking book with extraordinary prose.

Sherilyn Bourillon 

my favourite book ever written i don’t think it will ever be topped

evie coxon

An absolute masterpiece, the immense emotion that this has got me feeling is undeniable. The obsession with youth and its vanity is a poison to our soul and how we consume it decides on how will it consume us.

RIP Basil and Sibyl, you deserved better. Harry, honestly shut up. 

I want to read the uncensored version soon. 

An absolute masterpiece, the immense emotion that this has got me feeling is undeniable. The obsession with youth and its vanity is a poison to our soul and how we consume it decides on how will it consume us.

RIP Basil and Sibyl, you deserved better. Harry, honestly shut up. 

I want to read the uncensored version soon. 

reading this book can best be described as an emotional and existential rollercoaster. something about the personification of Dorian's seared conscience stirred a fear in me yet to subside…perhaps because the world reminds us that although Dorian Gray is fictional, his concept is not. but i guess that is exactly the property of great art - the ability to act as a mirror - and when necessary, a warning.

Me encantó, creo que me tragué este libro. 

La caída en el narcisimo, la vanidad y los placeres, es el mismo camino en bajada hasta la locura y las deshumanización. La justificación de sus acciones en filosofías como el hedonismo y el nihilismo fueron muy interesantes, perfectos para un narciso como Dorian. La verguenza, el miedo y la culpa- o también, la falta de ella- del hombre que fue devorado por sí mismo y por su propia consciencia, de la que nunca pudo arrancar. 

No puedo formular mis pensamientos! Son demasiados! Cada rincón de esta novela filosófica amerita un ensayo y un análisis más profundo que el que podría dar aquí. 

fabi ✩࿐  

Me encantó, creo que me tragué este libro. 

La caída en el narcisimo, la vanidad y los placeres, es el mismo camino en bajada hasta la locura y las deshumanización. La justificación de sus acciones en filosofías como el hedonismo y el nihilismo fueron muy interesantes, perfectos para un narciso como Dorian. La verguenza, el miedo y la culpa- o también, la falta de ella- del hombre que fue devorado por sí mismo y por su propia consciencia, de la que nunca pudo arrancar. 

No puedo formular mis pensamientos! Son demasiados! Cada rincón de esta novela filosófica amerita un ensayo y un análisis más profundo que el que podría dar aquí. 

Rahma fathy

I’ve been curious about the book since I watched the film (because, you know, 2009 Ben Barnes). Some of my friends have read this too and I have heard great things. I finished this on my flight and it is now quite an annotated book.

Wilde’s writing is vivid and exquisite, making me want to read more of his works. The exploration of the soul, the taboo (at that time), acknowledging and yielding to corrupted ways, and the regret that follows like a shadow were done so well.

I wrote somewhere in Chapter 10, “So easily he surrendered into his corruption and influence knowing full well what was going on and someone loves him enough to save him. Well. Can’t really help those who refuse it.”

Overall, definitely one of my favourite reads this year. So glad I picked this up! Would love to read it again and discuss it with someone.

I’ve been curious about the book since I watched the film (because, you know, 2009 Ben Barnes). Some of my friends have read this too and I have heard great things. I finished this on my flight and it is now quite an annotated book.

Wilde’s writing is vivid and exquisite, making me want to read more of his works. The exploration of the soul, the taboo (at that time), acknowledging and yielding to corrupted ways, and the regret that follows like a shadow were done so well.

My favourite line would be:

It was true that as one watched life in its curious crucible of pain and pleasure, one could not wear over one's face a mask of glass, nor keep the sulphurous fumes from troubling the brain, and making the imagination turbid with monstrous fancies and misshapen dreams.

I wrote somewhere in Chapter 10, “So easily he surrendered into his corruption and influence knowing full well what was going on and someone loves him enough to save him. Well. Can’t really help those who refuse it.”

Overall, definitely one of my favourite reads this year. So glad I picked this up! Would love to read it again and discuss it with someone.

It doesn't matter where you go or what you do, your guilt will follow you everywhere. That's my take away from this book.

hessensitive

Oscar Wilde’s writing is charming, I wish I could experience this book all over again. If the writing isn’t enough (which on its own would be) it is paired with one of the most interesting stories I’ve read in my lifetime. Worth the read, worth more than the read.

Iuno <3

yes the writing was beautiful, yes i know its a social critic and you’re not supposed to like the characters but books like that really aren’t my cup of tea. i decided to keep reading to give it a shot but this one really was a miss for me. idk what people are talking about when they say its hilarious and so quotable?? ill blame autism for me missing the jokes. ok but then chapter 12 happened and it got wayyy more fucked up and i started eating that shit UP omg stab stab stab… only for it to go back to being predictable and boring zzz

It's a stunning indictment of Victorian high society where everyone is implicated in either a past or present scandal, or have become so detached from material concerns that their only course in life is to seek amoral pleasure.

Dorian manages to dupe several characters of suspecting his various sins because his youthful appearance prevents them from viewing him as the decrepit figure in the painting reflecting his true soul. A tale to be aware that culture, sophistication and beauty does not mean one isn't capable of villainous acts.

Winnie

It's a stunning indictment of Victorian high society where everyone is implicated in either a past or present scandal, or have become so detached from material concerns that their only course in life is to seek amoral pleasure.

Dorian manages to dupe several characters of suspecting his various sins because his youthful appearance prevents them from viewing him as the decrepit figure in the painting reflecting his true soul. A tale to be aware that culture, sophistication and beauty does not mean one isn't capable of villainous acts.

taynara

My favorite book ever, shoutout 14 year old me for wanting to be ~literate~

Sierra Scanlan

The excruciating detail in both conversations and vanity seem to be small nice bits and its the character of Dorian Gray that’ll make you wrench of what an ugly man can really be

Hugo Hernandez

It's an amazing book, honestly it was one of the first classics I've read but christ I had to put the book down a few times, both because it's good but it's also the type of book you'd have to start yelling at ink on paper and look like a complete psycho. I did tear up a bit when it came to basil, like oh my god WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW SHEBEHR. Seriously though, it's lovely, it's well written and I love it's ideas it's a very enticing book and enjoyable. Oscar was definitely open about his sexuality through the book which would be surprising for it's time period since it was in 1891. It does contain some anti semitism however which is genuinely annoying because I'd have thought it'd be a more progressive book. Other than that, I do definitely recommend.

migs

Corruption, the obsession of beauty, and ego: will always be a part of human nature. Whether we completely understand or realize the influence or not—it is up for us to decide. Dorian's corruption slowly worsened as he lost the sense of empathy, hiding away the person that we met during the very first few chapters of the book.

Dorian Gray had taught me that once we see that corrupted self as our nature, it will then fuse, turning into our own flesh and blood. The vices and wrongs will ultimately take their toll, in whatever form it may be.

Though I may not possess the strongest English fluency, nor I have a high literature analysis skill, Wilde surprised me by how many points you can unpack. I will be making sure to read the uncensored version after this 😄

🍁

Corruption, the obsession of beauty, and ego: will always be a part of human nature. Whether we completely understand or realize the influence or not—it is up for us to decide. Dorian's corruption slowly worsened as he lost the sense of empathy, hiding away the person that we met during the very first few chapters of the book.

Dorian Gray had taught me that once we see that corrupted self as our nature, it will then fuse, turning into our own flesh and blood. The vices and wrongs will ultimately take their toll, in whatever form it may be.

Though I may not possess the strongest English fluency, nor I have a high literature analysis skill, Wilde surprised me by how many points you can unpack. I will be making sure to read the uncensored version after this 😄

I had to reread this classic for a course called Victorian Masculinities I'm taking. I was able to pick up on so many other details while reading this novel through a Victorian Masculine lens that I just haven't gotten from my other readings of it. 

Dorian's character has always been a mystery to me, but I think that's the whole point. Using a new lens to read this did uncover some more truths about his personality and the time period in which he/ Oscar Wilde lived. I'm really glad to have reread it and I know this is a classic I'll always come back to.

P.S. I only docked points from my rating because while this book is revolutionary and groundbreaking in not just Queer culture but also all of western literature- it does have many negative facets when it comes to the discussion of women and women in the Victorian era.

Paige Leitner

I had to reread this classic for a course called Victorian Masculinities I'm taking. I was able to pick up on so many other details while reading this novel through a Victorian Masculine lens that I just haven't gotten from my other readings of it. 

Dorian's character has always been a mystery to me, but I think that's the whole point. Using a new lens to read this did uncover some more truths about his personality and the time period in which he/ Oscar Wilde lived. I'm really glad to have reread it and I know this is a classic I'll always come back to.

P.S. I only docked points from my rating because while this book is revolutionary and groundbreaking in not just Queer culture but also all of western literature- it does have many negative facets when it comes to the discussion of women and women in the Victorian era.

jeanro b.

Lord Henry kept on getting on my nerves in some part of the book and that’s how you know that you love it.

Abisatyayay

breathtakingly stunning and gut-wrenching. i am just speechless, i cannot express my feelings about this book without spoiling anything. a must read!

ayoni

it was a bit hard to get through the language for the first couple pages, but i really enjoyed it!

The Picture of Dorian Gray

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