Review: By J.R. Blabberchops

The Picture of Dorian Gray, By Oscar Wilde

Delving into the pools of thought that encompass the mind of a madman this poetically written account of morality continues to inspire and captivate reader’s imaginations to this day. Showing only fragments of Dorian gray’s sordid lifestyle as he illustrates gray’s insanity, Wilde has created a menagerie of accounts to satisfy his reader’s curiosity while employing the use of lyrical and charming prose.
This story of a man brought to ruin by his own vanity and the interesting characters who sway his ideals and beliefs is not always the most original of novels and does make use of certain cheap plot tactics, but as a writer Oscar Wilde exceeds expectation and has created a thoroughly enjoyable read. Dorian’s obsession with youth and beauty is especially fitting in a culture that could be remembered for it’s own obsession with diet pills and teenage stars who are better looking than they are talented.
Wilde’s romanticised accounts of suicide, revenge and murder only seem to illustrate the author’s ineptitude in regards to the human condition and his own lack of experience of the darker side of life, however Wilde conveys the lead characters demise with such a level of charm and dignity that one can’t help but be enthralled.
At times certain segments seem to exist only for Wilde to show off his vast knowledge of culture, and if the reader is looking for an existential exploration into the human soul then this book won’t wholly satisfy, BUT don’t despair dear reader for this book is well worth the read, and anyone who is intrigued by the use of the English language and interested in the human psyche, will truly enjoy ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’.