BOOK REVIEW with Ellis
The Picture Of Dorian Grey
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde is talented like no other Victorian writer, unlike the cumbersome prose of Dickens and Thomas Hardy, Wilde spins words into fantastic shapes that illuminate his singular novel in silver and sunlight, then turn shadowy and corrupt as Dorian Grey does.
Dorian, a young English aristocrat of exceptional beauty, as well as miraculous virtue, is introduced to Lord Henry by the painter Basil, for whom Dorian had been posing as a painting model. Henry immediately assured Dorian that all his morality was inhibiting him from truly living his life, and in a fit of passion, Dorian accidentally sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty, and for the rather gorgeous painting done by Basil to age for him. As the story progresses, Dorian grows more and more hedonistic and villainous, all the while his painting grows more and more hideous. By the end of the novel you will be demanding Dorian’s punishment, and believe me when I say that his end is a fitting one.
For those worried that the language will be too difficult, it is an easier read than you would assume. It will engross you in ways that the best psychological thrillers will. You will begin to hate Dorian, but you never really lose sight of the innocent young boy from the beginning. Not until the very final pages does Dorian lose his humanity entirely. An excellent read, however, not for those easily bothered by morally compromised heroes. I would recommend it to any fan of classic literature, and even if that is not your thing, give it a shot. I promise it is worth your time.
