Challenge Corner discussion

Written in his distinctively dazzling manner, Oscar Wilde’s story of a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty is the author’s most popular work. The tale of Dorian Gray’s moral disintegration caused a scandal when it first appeared in 1890, but though Wilde was attacked for the novel’s corrupting influence, he responded that there is, in fact, “a terrible moral in Dorian Gray.” Just a few years later, the book and the aesthetic/moral dilemma it presented became issues in the trials occasioned by Wilde’s homosexual liaisons, which resulted in his imprisonment. Of Dorian Gray’s relationship to autobiography, Wilde noted in a letter, “Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.”

24%- (view spoiler)[This was partly spoiled for me by the fact that it's so famous, so I knew something was up with the painting. But now it has started changing and I am so intrigued. The way Dorian's inner cruelty is reflected on the physical painting is a really cool concept, and I can't wait to see where it goes. Also, there's a ton of foreshadowing going on, so I'm convinced Dorian is going to kill someone. Or Jim is going to attack Dorian. (hide spoiler)]

50%: (view spoiler)[Wow, Dorian really fell, fast. I wonder why he was so suddenly driven to sin the way he has. (hide spoiler)]

70%: (view spoiler)[I was right! There was some serious foreshadowing about Dorian committing crimes, and now he has. I love how all the implications from the beginning are working their way into the story. (hide spoiler)]

100%: (view spoiler)[This was so good! I loved the ending. I think that having Dorian destroy the picture but actually end up destroying himself was incredibly poetic. The fact that the painting went back to normal while he turned into an old man ties up the book's commentary on youth and beauty in a fascinating way. (hide spoiler)]

will start tomorrow!!

Cool! I'll hang around on this thread to chat

I finished and I’ll type up my thoughts tonight. Not quite sure how I felt about it all st the moment 😂

That's valid. I thought the ending was really poetic, it felt like it really came full circle.

25% (view spoiler)[ I've been tuning this out every so often. Idk it's not really keeping my attention. I don't really care about any of the characters so far. And Henry really irritates me with his view on women. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[ Well I already forgot that girl's name, but her suicide after Dorian yelled at her felt all very romeo and juliet-esque. I also just kind of rolled my eyes. Poor girl didn't deserve that but now we begin to see the darker side of Dorian which is interesting. (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[ Okay damn, I didn't think he was going to kill Basil (that was his name right??) I have this strange vibe that Henry is secretly gay and that's why he has so much resentment to women. Whether it's true who knows. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Okay so I knew Dorian committed suicide, but I didn't think it would be by stabbing the painting. That was kinda cool. I can't remember what happened to Henry, but ugh that man made me mad. Dorian was eh overall. It was surprising how dark this story became. (hide spoiler)]

Saige wrote: "That's valid. I thought the ending was really poetic, it felt like it really came full circle."

Yeah it definitely did!

Just to address your comment about Henry, this whole book is low-key gay. It was actually used as evidence against Oscar Wilde when he was tried for sodomy because of all the homoerotic subtext. There are definitely some strong anti-women vibes that I'm getting from a lot of the characters.

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RESTARTING AUGUST 8TH, 2024


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I’m starting it today I’m quite nervous because I’ve never read any classic books before other than those done at school.

Gracie wrote: "I’m starting it today I’m quite nervous because I’ve never read any classic books before other than those done at school."

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts about it!

I’m finding it quite hard to get in to it, I think it’s because I went in blind but I will keep at it

I do feel like Dorian Gray is quite vain as a character and quite selfish.

I do love the writing of Oscar Wilde I just couldn’t get in to the story as much as I would like to.

I like the complexity of the characters tho, I feel like if the story was longer and the build up had more suspense I would have been able to get further in to it.