What
better way to start this reading challenge than with books I've started in the
past but never completed.
I
attempted to read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde a couple of years
ago while I was unemployed. I had just graduated from college and thought-why
not read a classic while I'm looking for a job. I got halfway through the book
before I put it down for another (I read books one at a time), which is rare
for me. Normally, if I get halfway through the book and still dislike it, I
would suffer through the last half, even if it is slow going. It wasn't that I
didn't like The Picture of Dorian Gray. In reading it again, I remembered that
the middle of the story was so flat with useless description and that the rest
of the story was not as well paced and full of action as the first half. I
liked the first half of the book because most of the action and central ideas
unfolded in lengthy, purposeful dialogue. However, the second half of the book
is almost all details like a summary of Dorian Gray's life.
Nevertheless,
I was excited to read the book again. During the first failed reading, I was
taken in by the critique of beauty and indulgence and youth. It is a dangerous
story to read when you're young because you could be swayed to believe that
youth and indulgence is all that matters as indulgence is a symptom of youth.
We can see the negative ramifications of all three in some of our young
celebrities, which is more of an indictment on society than it is on them.
Recently,
I read on Wiki that Basil was how Oscar Wilde saw himself, Lord Henry Wotten
was how the world perceived him, and Dorian was how he wanted to be (or
arguably how everyone wants to be). After reading his background, the
comparison is apt. It also explains the in-depth characterization of all three.
All of the characters are unchanged by the end. Lord Henry still has amoral
views that he shares with wild abandonment and finds it entertaining to
influence others. Dorian Gray is still corrupted and selfish; even in his
attempt to be good, he is ruthless. He shows little remorse for his crimes and
the effects of his egotistical deeds. In the end, he still cares more about his
own soul.
I'm glad I finished
the story. All in all, it is a good book to read for well written prose. I
liked the action cues in the dialogue, such as a character saying don't look at
me like that or I can see you're annoyed, instead of using adjectives outside of
the dialogue like what is commonly seen. I'm also glad I started with this book
to get myself accumulated to classic writing. Also, I wondered how the rule that Dorian Gray couldn't see his painting came to be in modern films because it is an important element in the story. The painting gives Dorian Gray pleasure in the beginning as he sees how his decadence poisons his soul.
I actually read this book for free through Project Gutenberg. It is in the
public domain. It's a great non-profit and you can find thousands of free
classic books and short stories. Donate if you can. You can friend me on Goodreads to see what I'm
currently reading and the books I have on my challenge list (under books I
should read) so far.
