The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
This one was an impulse buy that wasn't in with my Christmas books. It's another soul-selling story, but unlike The Devil and Tom Walker, there is no tangible, spectral figure coming back to collect on the bargain. It's a concept that certainly had to be part of the inspiration for the Twilight Zone. It's what the Quentin Collins story line from the the original Dark Shadows series was based on. I saw the movie (the old movie from 1945) a long time ago and recommended it one year as a Halloween watch with the caveat that it's a total downer. I was hoping the book might convey something different as far as maybe a hopeful solution to the tragedy, since movies tend to take so much license with the material. But it's actually fairly true to the book which is a downer too. Even though I found it genuinely fascinating, as with 1984, I don't recommend you read it unless you can go into it with a thoroughly analytical mindset. Instead of finding it as fascinating as I do, you may find it downright depressing.
So often I, and others I know, have sat around wondering how some people seem to be able to live without a conscience and this is a handbook for doing just that. It's not vulgar or racy though, but poetic and honest. I don't know if Wilde was like Lord Henry himself or just knew and/or studied people like him, but his corruption of Dorian Gray is the primary aspect of the story that even eclipses the painting's power. And whatever the lurid details of Wilde's own personal life, this book doesn't try to justify or excuse the actions of any of the characters, but presents them ultimately as a tragedy. The concepts of evil and redemption are canvassed. Of course, Christians can see the story in the light of Satan's influence over selfish and prideful-natured characters which can't be easily shaken off and sabotages any attempt at repentance. If you're not a Christian, it's still an engrossing study of the dark side of human nature with an unhappy ending. I admit, it's disappointing that the character loses and that there's nothing hopeful to take from the story, but there's an honesty about it that makes sense. It's very interesting.
This one was an impulse buy that wasn't in with my Christmas books. It's another soul-selling story, but unlike The Devil and Tom Walker, there is no tangible, spectral figure coming back to collect on the bargain. It's a concept that certainly had to be part of the inspiration for the Twilight Zone. It's what the Quentin Collins story line from the the original Dark Shadows series was based on. I saw the movie (the old movie from 1945) a long time ago and recommended it one year as a Halloween watch with the caveat that it's a total downer. I was hoping the book might convey something different as far as maybe a hopeful solution to the tragedy, since movies tend to take so much license with the material. But it's actually fairly true to the book which is a downer too. Even though I found it genuinely fascinating, as with 1984, I don't recommend you read it unless you can go into it with a thoroughly analytical mindset. Instead of finding it as fascinating as I do, you may find it downright depressing.
So often I, and others I know, have sat around wondering how some people seem to be able to live without a conscience and this is a handbook for doing just that. It's not vulgar or racy though, but poetic and honest. I don't know if Wilde was like Lord Henry himself or just knew and/or studied people like him, but his corruption of Dorian Gray is the primary aspect of the story that even eclipses the painting's power. And whatever the lurid details of Wilde's own personal life, this book doesn't try to justify or excuse the actions of any of the characters, but presents them ultimately as a tragedy. The concepts of evil and redemption are canvassed. Of course, Christians can see the story in the light of Satan's influence over selfish and prideful-natured characters which can't be easily shaken off and sabotages any attempt at repentance. If you're not a Christian, it's still an engrossing study of the dark side of human nature with an unhappy ending. I admit, it's disappointing that the character loses and that there's nothing hopeful to take from the story, but there's an honesty about it that makes sense. It's very interesting.
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