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

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

 
“To define is to limit.”


~ Rating- 5 stars ~

Content/ Trigger Warnings- Ableism, Misogyny, Suicide, Murder

Note- I have tried to include all the content warnings that I noticed, but there is no guarantee that I haven’t missed something.

-No Mention of these in the review-

“The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.”


Dorian Grey is a youthful and attractive man, who trades his soul for the eternal youth of his portrait. Dorian, who has no regard for his soul and is full of vanity, ego and pride, lives just to satisfy his desires, and completely disregards his immoral behaviour toward others in the process. The Picture of Dorian Grey is a story about a young man who becomes a victim of devilish influence and has his soul corrupted. It is Dorian's struggle to accept the consequences of his own wicked actions, and Wilde's social commentary on how the mind can be swayed so easily to do cruel things. It explores the age-old question that everyone must ask themselves; Do I aspire to be good? And, more importantly, can I refrain from being bad?

“I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.”


The Picture of Dorian Grey, in my opinion, is a truly admirable piece of literature. Before reading the book I wasn't sure what it was about. The only thing I knew regarding the book was that it was one of Oscar Wilde's best work, and that it was a 'must read classic', which is why I picked it up. I definitely wasn't prepared for the dark, atmospheric tone of the book, accompanied by Wilde's mesmerizing flowery writing. I wasn't prepared to have my mind blown away.

“Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.”


There is no denying the superiority of Wilde's work. The Picture of Dorian Grey was my first Oscar Wilde read, and if this book is any testament to Wilde's excruciating talent, then I am really looking forward to reading more of their work. This book is a great reflection of how we do things we don't mean to, and the kind of impact it has. It lets us see the twisted parts of our minds that we ignore, and makes us question our beliefs. Its also a good representation of how other people often influence all our deeds and decisions, and they way they affect our self-perception and world-view.

“Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.”


Audiobook Comments-
The audiobook was narrated by Ben Barnes, and the narration was wonderful! I would highly recommend, especially for beginners. (Audiobook rating- 4.5/5 stars)

“The world is changed because you are made of ivory and gold. The curves of your lips rewrite history.”


Overall, The Picture of Dorian Grey was an impactful read and I really enjoyed it. It made me reconsider a lot of things and offered a new perspective on life. I'm waiting to re-read it in the future.

“Words! Mere words! How terrible they were! How clear, and vivid, and cruel! One could not escape from them. And yet what a subtle magic there was in them! They seemed to be able to give a plastic form to formless things, and to have a music of their own as sweet as that of viol or of lute. Mere words! Was there anything so real as words?”


Review written & uploaded on 2nd February 2022.

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DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.

How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite


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My mind has been blown away. RTC. 
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