The book I want to talk about is the only published novel by Oscar Wilde “The Picture of Dorian Grey”.

The book I want to talk about is the only published novel by Oscar Wilde “The Picture of Dorian Grey”.

 

First of all I’d like to say a few words about the author of the book and his ideas. Wilde became particularly well known for his role in the aesthetic and decadent movements. The author was deeply impressed by the English writers John Ruskin and Walter Pater, who argued for the central importance of art in life. Wilde later commented ironically when he wrote in “The P. of D.G” – “All Art is quiet useless”. The statement was meant to be read literally, as it was in keeping with the doctrine of Art for Art’s sake. As the leading aesthete in Britain, Wilde became one of the most prominent personalities of his day. Though he was sometimes ridiculed for his paradoxes and witty sayings were quoted on all sides.

The novel tells of a young man named D. Gr., the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Basil is impressed by D’s beauty and becomes infatuated with him, believing his beauty is responsible for a new mode in his art. Talking in Basil’s garden, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wolton, a friend of Basil’s, and becomes enthralled by Lord Henry’s world view. Espousing a new hedonism, beauty and fulfillment of the senses. Realizing that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian cries out, expressing his desire to sell his soul to ensure the portrait would age rather than himself. Dorian wish is fulfilled, plunging him into debauched acts. The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with act sin displayed as a disfigurement of his form, or through a sign of aging.

In a letter O. Wilde said the main characters were reflections of Basil Hallward are what I think I am: Lord Henry is what the world thinks me: Dorian is what I would like to be – in other ages perhaps.

I personally like the book because it shows us that we should be responsible for our actions. Each person has 2 sides inside: a black one and a white side. And its up to each of us which side to choose. In this particular situation Art plays a role of so called indicator of man’s personality. Art is quite useful, I should say it’s not the tool but it is an inspiration.

Speak of the fall of man and its consequences for mankind as treated in the Bible (The fall of man)

Well, as far as I can understand the fall of man started when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit; quite from this moment they started to know good and evil and this expressed itself in their realization that they were naked – they understood that there was some relation between a man and a woman. It’s evident that Lord God didn’t like this disobedience, so he punished Adam and Eve. Well, one of the consequences is that God says that he will greatly multiply Eve’s sorrow in her conception; He’ll increase her trouble in pregnancy and her pain in giving birth; secondly, God entitled the man the master of the woman; Thirdly, God said that in toil man shall eat of the ground all the days of his life. The forth consequence is that since that moment the man would no longer live forever: in the sweat of his face the man shall eat bread till he returns to the ground, for out of it he was taken. As God said: “for dust you are, and to dust you shall return”.

Thus, Adam was the gate by which sin came into the world, destroying its harmony. And this sin came into our genes bringing disease and death.

 

 

The book I want to talk about is the only published novel by Oscar Wilde “The Picture of Dorian Grey”.

 

First of all I’d like to say a few words about the author of the book and his ideas. Wilde became particularly well known for his role in the aesthetic and decadent movements. The author was deeply impressed by the English writers John Ruskin and Walter Pater, who argued for the central importance of art in life. Wilde later commented ironically when he wrote in “The P. of D.G” – “All Art is quiet useless”. The statement was meant to be read literally, as it was in keeping with the doctrine of Art for Art’s sake. As the leading aesthete in Britain, Wilde became one of the most prominent personalities of his day. Though he was sometimes ridiculed for his paradoxes and witty sayings were quoted on all sides.

The novel tells of a young man named D. Gr., the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Basil is impressed by D’s beauty and becomes infatuated with him, believing his beauty is responsible for a new mode in his art. Talking in Basil’s garden, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wolton, a friend of Basil’s, and becomes enthralled by Lord Henry’s world view. Espousing a new hedonism, beauty and fulfillment of the senses. Realizing that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian cries out, expressing his desire to sell his soul to ensure the portrait would age rather than himself. Dorian wish is fulfilled, plunging him into debauched acts. The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with act sin displayed as a disfigurement of his form, or through a sign of aging.

In a letter O. Wilde said the main characters were reflections of Basil Hallward are what I think I am: Lord Henry is what the world thinks me: Dorian is what I would like to be – in other ages perhaps.

I personally like the book because it shows us that we should be responsible for our actions. Each person has 2 sides inside: a black one and a white side. And its up to each of us which side to choose. In this particular situation Art plays a role of so called indicator of man’s personality. Art is quite useful, I should say it’s not the tool but it is an inspiration.

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