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So, I finished this a while ago. It's definitely another type of book where I felt a little lukewarm while reading it, but got hit by a strong wave of how much I loved it when I finished the story and reflected on it. What a thrilling, impressive novel! I understand why so many people love it now.
From the first moment we have with him I immediately loved Basil. Sue me, everyone does, it's basic, but how could you read this book—even just its opening scene—and not love Basil? I do so love tortured-artist type characters. It fascinates me that Basil is someone who is incredibly devoted to his artwork but still functions in high society to a degree, especially with someone like Lord Henry as a friend. Usually an artist like him would be depicted as some sort of social outcast, but that's not really so here, even though there is a notable difference between his place and the place of Henry and Dorian.
Lord Henry is a polarizing character and I see why, but God if he isn't funny. That's not to say I liked him, but he didn't bore me at all, he was always such an effective shit-stirrer and it was fun to watch him encourage, even drive Dorian's descent into madness.
And Dorian, sweet terrible awful Dorian. He was such a good protagonist. His fear and his desperation to cling to his own aesthete, his sense of beauty, were so palpable; the tension is written in such a way that you can really feel it and grasp what he is experiencing as well. I love how he gets corrupted, I love how much he changes from the naive youth to the hedonistic asshole. There's also something endearing in how unrelentingly arrogant and in love with himself he is, even from the very beginning. It sets the scene really quite well.
I love the dynamic between Henry as the corruptor and Basil as the, I suppose, angel on the shoulder. I do wish there were more scenes with Basil! Of course the whole point is that Henry "wins", that he has far more influence on Dorian, but I think I would've enjoyed a little more push-and-pull.
It did surprise me to see everyone painting (heh, painting) Basil as a totally innocent character, however. What I understood is that Basil doesn't really see Dorian as a person, either, much the same as Henry, just from opposite directions. Despite his good intentions he clearly sees Dorian as an object to be admired, a piece of art. He was in love with Dorian no doubt about it but he was far from treating him perfectly, and honestly I wonder if things would have been different if Basil had been more of a present friend, an equal, rather than the fucked-up God-and-worshipper thing they had going on.
In this sense I feel kind of bad for Dorian, who's had such a terribly unhealthy life. I feel even more pity for Basil though, as well as Sybil and James Vane (I really was rooting for him to kill Dorian, haha).
The dialogue all throughout was great. Sometimes romantic, sometimes intriguing, sometimes horrifying, sometimes funny. And the prose in the descriptions—incredibly decadent and vivid, which is fitting for this novel. Every theme was communicated and told so beautifully and clearly, easy to grasp even for me, who's kind of an idiot xD. The separation between upper class society and the "bottom" associated with drugs and violence, and how both of them are agents of Dorian's corruption, how every character in some sense prioritizes art and beauty over dignity and morality... just good stuff!
Of course, not a perfect book, I will say I had some gripes. Mainly, the middle did drag a little. I loved the beginning scenes introducing us to the characters, and it sped up and got really interesting when Dorian killed Basil, but I was kind of just coasting through it in between those. The chapter where Dorian describes the novel Henry gave him was so boring and pointless to me I almost got angry. I'm sure it means something but personally... Christ. Then the ending, while certainly more engaging, felt a little abrupt and rushed. And like I said, I wish there were more Basil moments.
Now the edition of this at the library did come with a lot of notes, and an introduction that compared the censored and uncensored versions, which I appreciated! Ultimately I like both, even if it's a shame that the homosexual themes had to be erased at the time.
Overall, good read! I enjoyed it. The characters and the dynamics between them were more interesting than anything else, what an amazing little love triangle from hell. Let's say... 9/10!
From the first moment we have with him I immediately loved Basil. Sue me, everyone does, it's basic, but how could you read this book—even just its opening scene—and not love Basil? I do so love tortured-artist type characters. It fascinates me that Basil is someone who is incredibly devoted to his artwork but still functions in high society to a degree, especially with someone like Lord Henry as a friend. Usually an artist like him would be depicted as some sort of social outcast, but that's not really so here, even though there is a notable difference between his place and the place of Henry and Dorian.
He is all my art to me now. ... I sometimes think, Harry, that there are only two eras of any importance in the world's history. The first is the appearance of a new medium for art, and the second is the appearance of a new personality for art also. What the invention of oil-painting was to the Venetians, the face of Antinous was to late Greek sculpture, and the face of Dorian Gray will someday be to me.
Lord Henry is a polarizing character and I see why, but God if he isn't funny. That's not to say I liked him, but he didn't bore me at all, he was always such an effective shit-stirrer and it was fun to watch him encourage, even drive Dorian's descent into madness.
And Dorian, sweet terrible awful Dorian. He was such a good protagonist. His fear and his desperation to cling to his own aesthete, his sense of beauty, were so palpable; the tension is written in such a way that you can really feel it and grasp what he is experiencing as well. I love how he gets corrupted, I love how much he changes from the naive youth to the hedonistic asshole. There's also something endearing in how unrelentingly arrogant and in love with himself he is, even from the very beginning. It sets the scene really quite well.
I love the dynamic between Henry as the corruptor and Basil as the, I suppose, angel on the shoulder. I do wish there were more scenes with Basil! Of course the whole point is that Henry "wins", that he has far more influence on Dorian, but I think I would've enjoyed a little more push-and-pull.
'Good God, Dorian, what a lesson! What an awful lesson!' There was no answer, but he could hear the young man sobbing at the window. 'Pray, Dorian, pray,' he murmured. 'What is it that one was taught to say in one's boyhood? Lead us not into temptation. Forgive us our sins. Wash away our iniquities. Let us say that together. The prayer of your pride has been answered. The prayer of your repentance will be answered also. I worshipped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshipped yourself too much. We are both punished.'
It did surprise me to see everyone painting (heh, painting) Basil as a totally innocent character, however. What I understood is that Basil doesn't really see Dorian as a person, either, much the same as Henry, just from opposite directions. Despite his good intentions he clearly sees Dorian as an object to be admired, a piece of art. He was in love with Dorian no doubt about it but he was far from treating him perfectly, and honestly I wonder if things would have been different if Basil had been more of a present friend, an equal, rather than the fucked-up God-and-worshipper thing they had going on.
In this sense I feel kind of bad for Dorian, who's had such a terribly unhealthy life. I feel even more pity for Basil though, as well as Sybil and James Vane (I really was rooting for him to kill Dorian, haha).
The dialogue all throughout was great. Sometimes romantic, sometimes intriguing, sometimes horrifying, sometimes funny. And the prose in the descriptions—incredibly decadent and vivid, which is fitting for this novel. Every theme was communicated and told so beautifully and clearly, easy to grasp even for me, who's kind of an idiot xD. The separation between upper class society and the "bottom" associated with drugs and violence, and how both of them are agents of Dorian's corruption, how every character in some sense prioritizes art and beauty over dignity and morality... just good stuff!
Of course, not a perfect book, I will say I had some gripes. Mainly, the middle did drag a little. I loved the beginning scenes introducing us to the characters, and it sped up and got really interesting when Dorian killed Basil, but I was kind of just coasting through it in between those. The chapter where Dorian describes the novel Henry gave him was so boring and pointless to me I almost got angry. I'm sure it means something but personally... Christ. Then the ending, while certainly more engaging, felt a little abrupt and rushed. And like I said, I wish there were more Basil moments.
Now the edition of this at the library did come with a lot of notes, and an introduction that compared the censored and uncensored versions, which I appreciated! Ultimately I like both, even if it's a shame that the homosexual themes had to be erased at the time.
Overall, good read! I enjoyed it. The characters and the dynamics between them were more interesting than anything else, what an amazing little love triangle from hell. Let's say... 9/10!
Once, someone who had terribly loved him, had written to him a mad letter, ending with these idolatrous words: 'The world is changed because you are made of ivory and gold. The curves of your lips rewrite history.' The phrases came back to his memory, and he repeated them over and over to himself. Then he loathed his own beauty, and flinging the mirror on the floor crushed it into silver splinters beneath his heel. It was his beauty that had ruined him, his beauty and the youth that he had prayed for. But for those two things, his life might have been free from stain. His beauty had been to him but a mask, his youth but a mockery. What was youth at best? A green, an unripe time, a time of shallow moods, and sickly thoughts. Why had he worn its livery? Youth had spoiled him.