BOOK REVIEW

By: Cojocaru Mihaela

NAME OF THE BOOK: The Picture Of Dorian Gray
AUTHOR: Oscar Wilde
YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1890
VOLUMES: Single Volume
GENRE: Gothic Fiction, Philosophical Fiction

CHARACTERS:
 Dorian Gray: The protagonist and the titular character, a young and
handsome man.
 Lord Henry Wotton: A cynical and witty aristocrat, Dorian's influential
friend.
 Basil Hallward: A talented artist who paints Dorian's portrait.
 Sibyl Vane: A beautiful actress and Dorian's ill-fated lover.

COST: aprox. 100 lei

SOURCE OF THE BOOK: I downloaded the online format of
the book on my „Kindle” (portable wireless electronic reading
device)

PLOT
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" follows the life of
a young and handsome man named Dorian Gray
in Victorian London. After having his portrait
painted by artist Basil Hallward, Dorian makes a
wish for the portrait to age instead of him.
Encouraged by the cynical Lord Henry Wotton,
Dorian embraces a life of hedonism and
immorality. As he indulges in pleasure without
consequence, his portrait reflects the hidden
consequences of his actions, aging and
deteriorating while Dorian remains eternally
young.
The novel explores themes of vanity, morality,
and the destructive pursuit of pleasure, serving as
a cautionary tale about the consequences of
unchecked desires.

MESSAGE
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" delivers a warning
about the perils of unchecked desires and the
pursuit of pleasure without regard for morality.
Through the story of Dorian Gray, the book
illustrates the damaging consequences of a life
focused solely on external appearances and
indulgence, urging readers to consider the deeper
and often hidden repercussions of their actions.

MY REVIEW
Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is
a captivating tale of Dorian, who wishes for
eternal youth. Influenced by a cynical friend,
Dorian's life takes a dark turn as he indulges in
pleasure and moral decay. The novel explores the
consequences of his choices through a magical
portrait. Wilde's witty writing and profound
insights make it a timeless masterpiece, critiquing
societal hypocrisy and the dangers of unchecked
desires. A must-read for those seeking a
compelling exploration of human nature and
morality.
 MY OPNINION
In my opinion, this book is a must read for
those who enjoy reading thought-provoking
novels and are interested in the exploration of
human’s nature and morality.
First of all, the novel explores in a clever wat
the consequences of unchecked desires and social
hypocrisy.
Second of all, the author’s witty writing and
profound message makes this book a „timeless
masterpiece”.
In conclusion, I recommend this book for whoever
enjoys classical literature and is interested in psychology
and philosophy.