Review: The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray

The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Short summary of my review
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a great read for anyone who believes to like stories about the soul and body and how easily it can get influenced or 'stained'. The character development for me in this book took me by surprise as I didn't expect it to turn out in the way it did. A few chapters before the ending was a tense moment, which felt like a great plot twist as I didn't expect the things that happened there. Despite Dorian Gray appearing to be smart and proofing it multiple times, he did some fatal mistakes that could have ended very badly for him. So, it left me confused as to why he was rewarded with luck, for his not well-thought-out plan.

Disclaimer
I read the original edition, which is the uncensored version of The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Note
The following review is spoiler free, which misses a few aspects. If you want to see the spoiler review with every aspect, read my StoryGraph review.

The Review

This book gave me a rollercoaster. I heard from other reviews that this book apparently is about the love of painting, which it surely wasn't. So, while I read the book I expected to see what so many said, but I was left confused, when it never appeared. The book isn't about the love of painting, it's about the soul and the body.

Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.

The painter in the story, Basil Hallward, seemed to be the protagonist at the start, but it changed quickly or was not even ever the case, as the book is about Dorian Gray, his painting and the way his soul changes.

I also liked Dorian Gray more at first as he appeared to be the most innocent and kind-hearted character in the whole story. He was, but not for long. So I changed my opinion at some point, liking Basil Hallward more than Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray had such a strong character development, but to the worse, that I changed my whole opinion about him. I usually don't do this in books, it rarely happens to me actually, so when I saw how I changed my opinion I was like: Wait a minute, did this author, the one I didn't like (I read some other work of him) actually manage to influence me that bad? I read 'Only Dull People Are Brilliant at Breakfast' and I only gave it 2 stars as there were some stuff I agreed on, but not a lot and out of nowhere the same author manages to take me by surprise. It surely was a big surprise, specially as I thought initially before reading this book that I probably won't like it. But here I am, liking it. It's amazing how fast one can change their opinion about an author when they read more works of named author.

The way how Dorian Gray's soul changed over a long period of time instead of a short period of time or even just immediately, was a realistic way how long it actually takes, especially if you aren't under the age of 6 anymore. Even though he had a great influence on his soul and mindset, it took him long for it to change him to a completely new person. The whole journey from it was very interesting to read about and made me realise better than any other book probably could tell me, how strong an influence really can be. Influences are something that shouldn't be taken lightly and I know this now.

Dorian Gray doesn't live on spiritual sensory, but through pleasurable experience, which is Hedonism.

In case you don't know what Hedonism is, this whole paragraph will be reserved for this. If you know already what it is, skip to the next paragraph.
Explanation from the book:

[...]a new Hedonism that was to recreate life, and to save it from that harsh, uncomely puritanism that is having, in our own day, its curious revival. It was to have its service of the intellect, certainly; yet, it was never to accept any theory or system that would involve the sacrifice of any mode of passionate experience. Its aim, indeed, was to be experience itself, and not the fruits of experience, sweet or bitter as they might be.

Explanation by myself:
Hedonism is a life style which is characterised by joy and happiness. People who follow this life style strive for happiness and avoid pain, sorrow, et cetera at all cost.

He didn't live this life style from the start of the book, but one can see how it changed him completely at some point.

‘Dorian, this is horrible! Something has changed you completely. You look exactly the same wonderful boy who, day after day, used to come down to my studio to sit for his picture. But you were simple, natural, and affectionate then. You were the most unspoiled creature in the whole world. Now I don’t know what has come over you. You talk as if you had no heart, no pity in you.[...]’

While I read this change, I was just like Basil Hallward sad about it. I wasn't sure what to do, I liked Dorian Gray at first, but it changed all out of the sudden.

Regardless of that there were other interesting parts in this book. Basil Hallward himself. Even though he wasn't the protagonist as I first thought, he was my favourite at the end. He never cared for any fame or great reputation. His friendship with Dorian Gray was more important to him. This shows how much he actually liked him and how kind he can be.

‘[...]Your friendship is dearer to me than any fame or reputation.’

Every time Basil Hallward talked to Dorian Gray, tried to maintain his friendship with Dorian Gray, despite the things that happened, I felt so sad for him. I didn't pity Basil, but I felt like he deserved better. All I wanted was to help him, but I was just a reader of this story.

He never gave up on Dorian Gray. That passion he had over their friendship was so admirable. Basil felt like a true friend. Someone you know who has your back, no matter what.

‘It is too late, Basil,’ he faltered.
‘It is never too late, Dorian.[...]’

Their whole relationship was interesting to get to know. Basil also tells how he first encountered Dorian Gray. I can't blame him for trying to keep him for himself, Dorian Gray was like a secret diamond no one discovered yet.

A few chapters before the ending was a tense moment, which felt like a great plot twist as I didn't expect the things that happened there. Since it wasn't a thriller book I didn't automatically looked out for hints that could lead to a plot twist, but I think there actually wasn't really one as the twist was about something that happened many years before this event. Also the way I thought I knew what will happen as soon as it was hinted on and then the end of this whole thing was again something I didn't expect!

Despite Dorian Gray appearing to be smart and proofing it multiple times, he did some fatal mistakes that could have ended very badly for him. So, it left me confused as to why he was rewarded with luck, for his not well-thought-out plan. Though I like the ending of this book, which wouldn't have happened if he wouldn't have been lucky. The ending is just like the rest of the book a reflective way to show how important it is to have a good soul and body.

Read: 31. October 2024
Reviewed: 1. November 2024

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