The Big Boring Book Blog

Dorian Gray is a young man whose physical appearance is handsome and innocent. An aspiring artist paints a beautiful portrait of Dorian. Dorian wishes that he always look like his youthful appearance in the portrait. The wish comes true. Dorian remains the same – youthful and charming, but the portrait begins to transform itself into the image of his soul.

When Dorian embraces a life of hedonism, he uses his good looks and charm to obtain whatever he desires in life. His insensitivity drives a friend to suicide. The evil desires of his heart eventually cause him to murder a friend in cold blood. Over a period of twenty years, Dorian becomes a monster on the inside (reflected by the portrait of his soul) even as he remains youthful and innocent on the outside.

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The Picture of Dorian is one of my favorites from the 2015-2016 readings. I like the meaning behind Oscar Wilde's work and the way Dorian's character is reflected in a painting.

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Common Theme

Again, the act of yearning for an object or idea is seen in this novel. Dorian Gray yearns for a youthful an innocent appearance, while his soul is reflected in his portrait.
 

Quotes

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

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“Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope. They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only Beauty. There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.”