The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

A picture is worth a thousand words, or in the case of Dorian Gray, a thousand sins. Dorian, the protagonist in the novel, is a fresh, beautiful young man with a clear conscious that is free from the influence of the world. An artist, Basil Hallward, spots this young man and is fascinated by his purity and decides to paint a portrait of him. The portrait is beautiful, and known as the best work of this artist. Abnormal to Dorian’s character, he hates the painting, jealous that the painting will always remain young but he will continually grow old, and wishes it was the other way around. Little does he know at that time that this wish will come true.

Oscar Wilde does not waste any time jumping into this novel centered around human character, as can be seen in the first few chapters. The story is centered around Dorian’s life and character, which is largely influenced by a friend of Basil, Lord Henry Wotten. Little by little through the sensual propensity of this Lord Henry, Dorian inches towards a life of decadence. Dorian becomes more attached to the cynical Lord Henry and interested in his luxurious and gratifying lifestyle while abandoning his own banal lifestyle. What Dorian does not realize is that the more rapacious he becomes, the more his picture represents his repugnant soul filled of sin. While on the outside Dorian stays young and handsome, the picture which represents his soul, turns more and more horrid. Dorian hides the picture with the intent to never look at it again, but finds it hard not to look at who he really is.

Filled with politics, love, lust, greed, and hate, Oscar Wilde delivers his only published novel with a serious look at human nature. The book explores into what is important in life and how good people can turn awry. It delves into the soul of man and how sin ruins us internally. Wilde clearly paints a picture of the comparison between what is good and what is evil, in this gothic novel. Wilde did a wonderful job of making the story intensely vivid and tangible, lifelike, funny, with all the thoughtfulness a writer can posses. The setting is perfect for this hauntingly soul diving description of moral character and in the end, Wilde produces a masterpiece of literature, never to be reproduced.