Name: The Picture of Dorian Gray
ISBN: 9780141442464

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

Yoko simons 

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

Chloe Heisserer

There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that others might pick them up.

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.

clara

Storm

‘…every great portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the foolish siter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter: it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself. The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul.’

I had a strange feeling that Fate had in store for me exquisit joys and exquisite sorrows

‘…Tell me more about Mr Dorian Gray. How often do you see him?’

‘Every day. I couldn't be happy if I didn't see him every day. He is absolutely necessary to me.’

Lord Henry had not yet come in. He was always late on principle, his principle being that punctuality is the thief of time. 

‘I am not laughing, Dorian; at least I am not laughing at you. But you should not say the greatest romance of your life. You should say the first romance of your life. You will always be loved, and you will always be in love with love. A grande passion is the privilege of people who have nothing to do. That is the one use of the idle classes of a country. Don't be afraid. There are exquisite things in store for you. This is merely the beginning.’

‘Dorian is far too wise not to do foolish things now and then, my dear Basil.’

‘I never approve, or disapprove, of anything now. It is an absurd attitude to take towards life. We are not sent into the world to air our moral prejudices…’

Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.

There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.

But beauty, real beauty. ends where an intellectual expression begins. Intellect is in itself a mode of exaggeration, and destroys the harmony of any face.

The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world. They can sit at their ease and gape at the play. If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.

‘Oh, I can't explain. When I like people immensely I never tell their names to anyone. It is like surrendering a part of them. I have grown to love secrecy. It seems to be the one thing that can make modern life mysterious or marvellous to us. The commonest thing is delightful if one only hides it. When I leave town now I never tell my people where I am going. IfI did, I would lose all my pleasure. It is a silly habit, I daresay, but somehow it seems to bring a great deal of romance into one’s life. I suppose you think me awfully foolish about it?’

He, too, felt that we were destined to know each other.

Laughter is not at all a bad ending for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one.

I suppose it comes from the fact that none of us can stand other people having the same faults as ourselves.

In the wild struggle for existence, we want to have something that endures, and so we fill our minds with rubbish and facts. in the silly hope of keeping our place.

Nothing can cure the soul but the senses just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.

beautiful prose, incredibly compelling themes, obvious classic. i wish i had read this when i was 15

lily

I enjoyed this more than I think I ought to

Leontine

As much of a classic as this is, it was only while reading it that I realised I knew very little about it. I now understand why this is a classic.  This book is such a good lesson in morality and consequences and seeing the very human emotions from Dorian almost make you feel bad for him, despite his terrible actions. It is a true classic tragedy. Definitely worthy of its reputation!

Soph

It gave me many firsts. Thoughts I would've never think if it weren't for the book's prompts. Dorian Gray is a complex character, easy to hate but impossible to not love. He represents something in us that can only be revealed when we are at our worst, that I cannot deny. My favourite classic.

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. 

march🐇

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. 

the first classic book i read i think and i really enjoyed reading it. it was so complex and there were so many interesting details. everything was described in such a beautiful, detailed and dramatic manner.

i have a love-hate relationship with the characters. i think they were written beautifully, but i still hate some of them. i hate lord henry. he ruined dorian's life. he made him believe that he was nothing without his looks. he just played with dorian as if he was his personal toy. he talked so much nonsense that sometimes he made me want to throw my phone out the window. i liked basil, but it seemed like he only liked dorian for his beauty and was using him for that. but he was an interesting character and he didn't deserve what happened to him.

i sometimes had a hard time understanding what they were talking about, so i read the book slowly and enjoyed every chapter.

victor

the first classic book i read i think and i really enjoyed reading it. it was so complex and there were so many interesting details. everything was described in such a beautiful, detailed and dramatic manner.

i have a love-hate relationship with the characters. i think they were written beautifully, but i still hate some of them. i hate lord henry. he ruined dorian's life. he made him believe that he was nothing without his looks. he just played with dorian as if he was his personal toy. he talked so much nonsense that sometimes he made me want to throw my phone out the window. i liked basil, but it seemed like he only liked dorian for his beauty and was using him for that. but he was an interesting character and he didn't deserve what happened to him.

i sometimes had a hard time understanding what they were talking about, so i read the book slowly and enjoyed every chapter.

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.

Cecilie Spangsberg

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

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.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

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