Reviews

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

meisqr's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

llamaburger32's review against another edition

5.0

This book is honestly amazing. One of my favourite parts of this book was Oscar Wilde’s fantastic descriptions. You’d be reading about themes of guilt and selfishness which would always contrast so beautifully with his descriptions of art and literature. I feel as though this contrast really emphasises Wilde’s main point of what you see on the outside not always matching the inside, the theme reflecting both in Dorian Gray’s appearance vs personality, and the way he structures his writing. I also loved how he described the weather and on multiple occasions I got literal goosebumps. Another theme that I feel is interesting is the views that Henry brings into Dorian’s life, and how Dorian’s outlet on life gradually changes throughout the book; I particularly enjoyed how Dorian Gray was almost a feminist at the beginning of the book, and then after Sibyl Vane he gradually succumbs to Henry’s views. One of my favourite themes in this book was guilt and specifically Dorian Gray’s relationship with it. At one point, he states “And yet if it had been merely an illusion, how terrible it was to think that conscience could raise such fearful phantoms, and give them visible form, and make them move before one!”, and I feel as though this quote really resonated with me and it reminded me of similar topics that come up in Dostoyevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment’. Overall, this book is amazing and I absolutely loved it, I feel as though it has made me want to read some more classics again.

julietpirouet's review against another edition

dark mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

actualgrandma's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

violetlyblue's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

pennyleigh's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

spidergirl502's review against another edition

dark funny sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

tatteredpharey1's review against another edition

2.0

The side characters prattle on about anything and everything. Nothing that adds to the story. Half of this could've been cut out and it would have made a good Gothic horror.

rianneth's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

awildshey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0