Celeste+-+The+Picture+of+Dorian+Gray

=The Picture Of Dorian Gray ~Oscar Wilde~ = Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1854. During his life, he wrote many short stories, plays, poems and one novel, becoming one of the most successful writers of the late Victorian era in London. The second of two sons, Wilde was born into a family of writers. He was home-schooled until the age of nine followed by schooling at many prestigious schools throughout Ireland, eventually graduating from Oxford College in London. After returning to Dublin from Oxford, Wilde married Constance Lloyd, together they had two sons- Cyril and Vyvyan. Wilde suffered a downfall and was imprisoned for two years after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men. After this downfall, Wilde's wife Constance took the surname Holland for herself and her sons. After being released from prison, Wilde left Dieppe, France. He never returned to Britain or Ireland. He died of cerebral meningitis on November 30, 1900. He was buried in the Cimetiere de Bagneux in Paris, and was later moved to Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. =Plot Summary =  We meet Dorian Gray as a young boy who was greatly adored by all simply because he was young, wealthy, and incredibly beautiful. He had particularly strong influence on the artistic vision of Basil Hallward. Dorian was the painter's muse. :His personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style. I see things differently, I think of them differently. I can no re-create life in a way that was hidden from me before Dorian" (13). We enter the story just as Basil is completing a portrait of Dorian. The portrait is said to be the artists most beautiful painting - and after refusing to enter it into an art gallery, he gives it to the young Dorian.  After realizing the beauty which is conveyed in the portrait, and having a conversation with Lord Henry on the idea that beauty was really all he had, Dorian became immediately afraid. Afraid because he know that as time went by, his most prominent and influential characteristic - his beauty and youth - would fade. With the knowledge that as his beauty faded, the painting would remain as marvelous as ever, Dorian cursed the portrait, and prayed, in a fit of fear and rage, that the painting would bear the evidence of his life, and his experiences as he grew old. "I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die. I am jealous of the portrait you have painted of me. Why should it keep what I must lose? Every moment that passes takes something from me, and gives something to it. Oh, if it were only the other way! If the picture would change, and I could be always what I am now Why did you paint it? It will mock me some day - mock me horribly!" (26). The changes in life-style Dorian experiences after ultimately falling in love with his beauty are credited to the influence of Lord Henry, and his more cynical, hedonistic views. This is seen especially when Dorian receives a book from Lord Henry which seems to only promote his falling into a life of crooked venality. The power and corruption Dorian has is shown throughout the story. However, the evidence of this corruption was hidden from the world as the signs of sin and age were not visible on Dorian's face. He remained young and charming, while the corruption could be seen on his face in the once beautiful portrait. Although Dorian could easily win the favor of his peers because of his looks alone, there began to be talk of his corruption, which concerned his good friend Basil. He came one night to confront Dorian about the rumors he had heard in order to help maintain his name. Dorian felt it was time to show Basil the true evil that was him - he showed him the portrait that had been hidden away for years. Basil was horrified by the portrait "An exclamation of horror broke from the painter's lips as he saw in the dim light the hideous face on the canvas grinning at him" (36). He tells Dorian that he needs to repent for the things he has done. Dorian simply replies that it is too late to save his soul, and kills Basil. Rather than confess to his sins, and own up to the life of selfish luxury he led, Dorian decided to instead destroy the last piece of evidence that showed his corruption - the portrait. "He looked round, and saw the knife that had stabbed Basil Hallward. He had cleaned it any times, till there was no stain left upon it. It was bright, and glistened. As it had killed the painter, so it would kill the painter's work, and all it meant. It would kill the past, and when that was dead and free. It would kill the monstrous soul-life, and without its hideous warnings, he would be at peace. He seized the thing, and stabbed the picture with it" (194). Killing this picture was however, ultimately killing himself.

~What really helped the reader step into the story was Wilde's descriptive writing. However, at parts, his going into detail made it hard to get through. Once past the first few chapters, the book was an easy, enjoyable read.