Book Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

When I bought this book a friend of mine commented that I seem to stumble upon the dark stuff. After finishing it, that comment makes so much sense. The picture of Dorian Gray is by far the most enthralling and, in a way, haunting piece of literature I have read till now. Oscar Wilde’s only published novel is a story with the question “what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” as the theme. Dorian Gray, in a mad moment of vanity, barters his soul for eternal youth. It is his story of Hedonism.

Dorian Gray is a young man of exquisite charm and flower like beauty who becomes the impetus of the artist Basil Hallward’s work. Basil is instantly infatuated by the young man and prepares his finest work of art, a painting of Dorian Gray himself. Come Lord Henry, a man with the oft cynic insights, who influences Dorian to such an extent as to transform him from an innocent young man to a person whose aim becomes the pleasure of senses.

“To cure the soul by the means of senses and senses by the means of soul”, as Lord Henry puts it.

Lord Henry is a sarcastic and witty character. His, at times, horrifying theories influence Dorian to a great extent. Before Dorian dangles now the chance of a life of only sensory pleasures, and in this he commits sins that are etched upon the painting, while he retains his beauty. As his life goes on the scars of his sins go further from just disfiguring and torturing the canvas.

Wilde’s brilliantly artistic narrative of the setting of each scene is a pleasure to read. Lord Henry’s cunning and even funny repartee makes one think. This book is governed much by the importance of art in any form and the pursual of it in life.

“There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book” is a part of the preface added by Wilde after the book was widely criticized of being “immoral” after its first publication. Through this book the reader might wonder of the validity of that argument.

Utterly gripping, this is a masterpiece which brings forth the rather grey side of human psychology. The vividly haunting portrayal of the English streets at night and the daunting turmoil of Dorian Gray linger with the reader.

- Anubhav Srivastava