The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Stories

By Oscar Wilde

Book Overview

A pivotal figure in nineteenth-century literature, Oscar Wilde was a multitalented and multifaceted writer. His large and diverse body of work includes immensely popular stage plays, the highly... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566196337
• ISBN13: 9781566196338
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble Classics
• Length: 331 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Who wants to look young forever?

Basil, who up until now was a mediocre painter, after meeting Dorian Gray, a young Adonis, was inspired to create a masterpiece into which he puts himself. Against Basil's wishes, Basil’s friend Lord Henry influences Dorian Gray. Dorian looks at his portrait and realizes that while the portrait will stay young forever, he will grow old; so, Dorian makes a wish that if only he could stay young forever, the portrait could age. At first, Dorian does not realize his wish has been granted. He falls in love with a beautiful young actress who is every woman that Shakespeare ever wrote about. But once again due to Lord Henry's influence, he realizes that she is just a common girl. Starting with absent-minded acts, Dorian slowly sinks into debauchery. And with every new act, his picture becomes more grotesque while Dorian stays as young and innocent-looking as the day his picture was painted. What will become of Dorian? What will become of Dorian's painting? What would you do if you were Dorian? Oscar Wilde paints a picture himself as he describes Dorian Gray's dilemma. And we, as readers, travel with Dorian as each decision is made. In some places in the story, Oscar Wilde seems to drag on and on with detail; however, we find that this detail is necessary to set the next scene. Oscar Wilde himself led a risky life that led to a jail sentence; his attitude can be seen in the dialogue in this book.