A review by bfrance99
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

The good points: the writing is quite witty in places, although challenging at times, and there are a lot of iconic quotes that really make you think. The plot itself is also engaging, and the ending was satisfying. Dorian’s character was annoying but I also appreciated the growth (or rather, the lack of) throughout the novel. The bad points: Lord Henry was the most insufferable, vile character that I’ve come across, and I genuinely hated everything that he said. I also solely blame him for Dorian’s corruption. The writing was very pretentious and cynical at times, especially with Henry’s dialogue. I understand that it was written in the 1800s, but the blatant hatred for women throughout has knocked a star off for me; it was so unnecessary.