Picture of Dorian Gray Repport

Book Report - The Picture of Dorian Gray

You have to suffer for beauty. That is the saying. But does this suffering have a limit? Oscar wild touches this subjects in The Picture of Dorian gray.
The book was first published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890. The magazine’s editors feared that the it was too indecent to submit, so they roughly censured 500 words.

The book covers many genres; Gothic fiction, comedy of manner, philosophical fiction, comedy of manners,Gothic fiction, has elements of the classic horror story
The elements of gothic fiction is seen in the Supernatural and inexplicable events. The faustian concept that is held in the picture is not something that would occur in real life. The whole book takes its starting point in the supernatural object. Another sign of gothic fiction is the atmosphere of Mystery. This is also at place due to the supernatural element. But the mystique is also provoked by the murder of Basil Hallward that is kept a secret for a long period of time. Also the high emotions that takes place throughout the book, stir the atmosphere. Especially the reaction of Sibyl Vane is fiery. Oscar Wild is known a great writer of comedies of manner, and The Picture of Dorian Gray is not an exception. The society and the question of manner are presented in a highly satirized way;
“It is a sad thing to think of, but there is no doubt that genius lasts longer than beauty. That accounts for the fact that we all take such pains to over-educate 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. The thoroughly well-informed man--that is the modern ideal. And the mind of the thoroughly well-informed man is a dreadful thing. It is like a bric-a-brac shop, all monsters and dust, with everything priced above its proper value.” (Chapter 1)

Here Oscar Wild forms straight critique of the system of society in a sarcastic tone. Something that also underlines the comedy-of-manner-genre, is the role of the woman;
“My dear boy, no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals.” (Chapter 4)

The dialogue throughout the book is written in a tone charged with sharp humor that creates the ‘comedy of manner’.
The Picture of Dorian Gray also covers the genre; Philosophical Fiction. This genre is defined by questioning f.ex the function and role of society, the purpose of life, ethics or morals, the role of art in human lives, and the role of experience or reason in the development of knowledge, witch the book is mainly touched on.
There are even traces of a classical horror story. Dorian visits the ‘Den’ and especially throughout this visit, the language is packed with gloomy adjectives;
“A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred streetlights looked ghastly in the dipping mist.” (Chapter 16)
There is also the element of stress, witch is characteristic for horror. We never know when Sibyl Vane’s brother is going to strike. Also just the picture itself adds horror in its supernatural form.

I personally enjoyed the wide range of genres that are inclined in the book. I think that it provides many dimensions and layers and brings more depth to it.

The writing of the book, is some of the most brilliant I have ever read. Every sentence is groundbreaking and absolutely completed. If you look on the internet, there are endless numbers of quotes from this book. This emphasizes the same reason. I admire it fantastically, but at times i find it almost exhausting to read. Especially when Lord Henry talks. I have an ambivalent feeling about it, because as well as it is heavy to read, it is also a sheer pleasure. Here are some of my favorite quotes:

“My dear boy, the people who love only once in their lives are really the shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the lethargy of custom or their lack of imagination.. Faithfulness is to the emotional life what consistency is to the life of the intellect---simply a confession of failures. Faithfulness! I must analyse it some day. The passion for property is in it. There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that others might pick them up. But I don't want to interrupt you. Go on with your story. ” (Chapter 4)

“What of Art?
-It is a malady.
--Love?
-An Illusion.
--Religion?
-The fashionable substitute for Belief.
--You are a sceptic.
-Never! Scepticism is the beginning of Faith.
--What are you?
-To define is to limit.” (Chapter 17)

“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” (Chapter 1)

“There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all” (Chapter 11)

I also find the writing heavy at times, because of extremely long sentences without a full stop. The descriptions sometimes seem never-ending, but at the same time beautifully poetic. They trigger all your senses and are therefor very intense at times.

All the persons play a vital role in the book, and I directly felt interested in them. Separately they would be unfulfilled. They are a necessity for each other to form the story. Basil and Henry both need Dorian, and he is also in need of them to a certain degree. The triangle is dominated by Dorian and I interpreted Basil and Henry as two influencing factors on Dorian. Almost like they were a part of his persona. Basil acts as the moral angel contra Henry - the tempting, toxic devil.

I see these characteristics as essentials to the overall meaning of the book. The choice of life, wether you should choose the ‘right‘ or the ‘wrong‘ path. And also that these views exists in every person and creates frustrations. Does one live in Innocence, sin or redemption? In this case, Dorian ends up dying by his own sins, and shatter up the picture - his own soul.

Oscar Wild was a novelist, poet, and short story writer. One of the most successful playwrights of late Victorian London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day, known for his barbed and clever wit. He suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned after being convicted in a famous trial of "gross indecency" for homosexual acts.

If you have the Oscar Wild’s background story in your mind, you can easily get associations and connections in the book as to his personal life. One theme I would point out is ‘homoerotic love’. As Oscar Wild himself was a homosexual, the undertones are quite clear. I found it interesting to read and to notice every time they tried to disguise these ‘inappropriate’ undertones. It displays a picture of the time in the late victorian age. It was an age that was controlled by superficiality as well. Oscar Wild leaves this book as an extremely critical comment to the time in witch he lived in. In the time in witch he was never accepted.

I though the ending was as great as it could be. I can’t see it end in any other way. It was necessary for Dorian to finally brake the spell he had put on him self. So it was fully satisfactory.

My overall opinion on this book is that it is a masterpiece of it’s own. For the unique writing style that both imply humor and philosophical reflections, for the courage of putting tabu themes in the spotlight, for the complexity of the plot and for the interesting characters. I don’t think I would recommend this book for everyone though, because it requires some patience and concentration at times. I lost mine a couple of times.

But on the other hand, I actually think I would, because it is such a treat to read something, written so clever and sharp and I think anyone should have the pleasure of acknowledging the style of Oscar Wild - the extravagant genius of his time.