The Picture of Dorian Gray
I had always been fascinated by the character of Dorian Gray. To me, he was this fictional easter-egg that would pop up in random movies and television shows that I had watched throughout my life, and when one googles the character of Dorian Gray, roughly 20 actors show up in the played-by section. Showing that he, much like Batman or the Joker, has been passed down through the generations as a character that stands still in time. Moreover, I challenged myself to read the work he originated from, this is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
The Picture of Dorian Gray falls under the genres of gothic horror and philosophical fiction. It was originally published in 1890, in the United Kingdom, with many versions that now have various introductions, appendices and notes. It is the first and only work by Oscar Wilde that falls under the category of novel.
The novel follows painter Basil Hayward’s muse, 20-year-old Dorian Gray. Dorian has just finished sitting for the finest portrait ever done by Basil. Enamored by his beauty, and with the influence of Basil’s cynical friend Lord Henry Wooton who convinces Dorian that youth and beauty are the only finer things in life worth pursuing, Dorian wishes for eternal beauty and youth while his portrait bears the burden of age. This wish comes true but not without consequence. As Dorian pursues a life of pleasure and sin, he finds that the portrait reflects his sins and atrocities which leads him to understand the high price of eternal youth and beauty.
Dorian’s wish is known as a Faustian bargain or a deal with the devil.
I went into this novel with little expectation. I was excited to read it considering the season and I had heard high praises from peers. Although I found the novel a bit of a challenge to read considering it was written over a century ago, I also understand and appreciate the themes that proved to be applicable today.
The imagery throughout I think is one of the highlights of the book, Wilde’s use of flowers was my favorite. The comparison of the fleeting beauty of flowers to Dorian’’s eternal youth as well as the symbolism represented in each flower color was beautifully done. A good example of this is in chapter four when Basil is describing Dorian by explaining “His nature had developed like a flower, had borne blossoms of scarlet flame.”
The personification of life and death throughout the novel also constantly stood out to me, partially because my editor’s brain did not like that those words were capitalized in the middle of sentences, but also because Wilde shows firstly, that immortal beauty is not something to be had as Dorian becomes consumed by his sins, and secondly that Wilde is a poet first and foremost. From similes like “metaphors as monstrous as orchids” to literal metaphors such as “The joy of a caged bird was in her voice,” or my favorite line which is located in chapter nine; “There seemed to him to be something tragic in a friendship so cloured by romance,” Wilde displays an unmatched talent that has me wishing he had written more novels in his lifetime.
The novel also has queer undertones displayed in Basil’s unmatched infatuation with Dorian, and his portrait which is considered a reflection of repressed homosexuality in Victorian society.
Oscar Wilde was tried for gross indecency five years after the novel was published for having an affair with a British aristocrat. The novel was also considered a key piece of evidence against Wilde in court. Wilde served two years in prison for this and died in 1900, three years after being released. An official quote varies among sources but there lies an account of Wilde saying his greatest mistake was trusting a society that celebrated his whit but shunned his sexuality.
This idea is also reflected in The Picture of Dorian Gray, which is often remarked to be about the consequences of coming out in traditional society, as well as the trauma of living a closeted life.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a stunning reflection of society paired with an aging and degrading portrait that mirrors perhaps the harshest parts of the modern world. Wilde proves to stand the test of time with this one as it, just like its protagonist, remains beautiful and a piece of literature that touches on relevant topics over a century later.