Book Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray. Writer: Oscar Wilde.

 

In the 1890s, when there were certain defined genres, Wilde's book 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' managed to carve its own niche by commingling different genres and producing a delectable and thoroughly ambrosial read. The book is testimony to the fact that if there is a fetching story backed by an equally fetching writing, popularity is parturioned and excellence is not a probability, but a natural outcome. 

Dorian Gray is a young, radiant, cherubic and wonderfully handsome man who is Basil Howard's muse. As the latter artist admires and paints Dorian's various features, his beautiful eyes, his long neck, his perfect torso and progresses in every session, he takes a look at his portrait and its beauty makes him question his own self. The beauty of Dorian's face and body stands in direct contradiction with his ugly actions as a human being. The extremely beautiful portrait dons a fiendish look in his eyes. 

The book was ahead of its time in symbolism, portrayal of Gothic and psychological fiction and mastery in metaphors. At a time when a human being would primarily be judged on the basis of his appearance, this book was among a few that acknowledged that there is more to a person than his appearance. The writing is poignant, witty, humorous and satirical. Bon mots are an essential element of Wilde's writing. He has the skill of making sardonic statements appear like compliments, a tact even Winston Churchill was known for. 

As Dorian who is nothing short of a modern day narcissistic Instagram influencer; full of himself and having an attitude that he can get away with almost anything only because of his striking features, because he mostly does , finds himself in direct confrontation with his own portrait as he traverses on the path of his life. The way Howard perceives Dorian and the way Dorian perceives himself is almost like chalk and cheese. Dorian constantly questions whether he is as beautiful as his portrait, because in Wilde's language, beauty is only 'sin-deep'. 

Every character in the book serves a definite purpose, and there is no redundancy in that regard. The writer's imagination is so vivid that a film starts playing in the reader's mind. It is a treat for the lovers of art, literature and of course anthropology. The modern definition of beautiful as a state of being, as opposed to the erstwhile definition of what meets the eye is phenomenally portrayed in the book. Wilde, in his awareness and perception of true beauty and an open depiction of reality is a savant. 

'The Picture of Dorian Gray' emanates erudition. Wilde's knowledge of history is evident as he seeks references of Sir Walter Pater and Sir Leslie Stephen (Father of the formidable Virginia Woolf). He is also an art cognoscenti; his comments on the artworks of the Renaissance period and on the then contemporary artists, are an education in themselves.

'The Picture of Dorian Gray' is an expose of the punctilious English upper-class that only has eyes for finery but is blind towards the finer things in life. The urge of ostentation of the members of the upper echelon and their felicity in the fall of others to the extent of being snide and almost insensitive is visible throughout the book. The book exposes many facets: the truth behind rumors, the reality behind scandals and the deceptiveness of appearances. 

Overall, the book deserves to be read for many reasons, but primarily for its writing style and visionary story. Wilde is a master storyteller. 

MY TAKE: 9/10. 

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Author: Ms. Radhika Sunil Vaidya. 

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