In 1890 playwright Oscar Wilde published his one and only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray which tells the adventures of a man named Dorian Gray and his painting, which can be surmised from the title. Dorian wished that the painting, created by his friend Basil Hallward, would get old and be one that is marked by life instead of himself. He had been recently told by Lord Henry Wotton that “[Y]outh is the one thing worth having,” (Wilde, 34). The interesting part of this otherwise ordinary tale is that the wish Dorian made when the painting was finished actually came true. As the novel continues the reader witnesses the inner turmoil or lack of emotion in Dorian as his sins lead to tragedy. Dorian said that he “would give everything” and that
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His renown could also be from his parents because before he was born both were talented and successful. Sir William Wilde by the age of thirty was a well known surgeon, an author of two books, and a traveler of North Africa and the Middle East (CMG Worldwide). He opened a Ophthalmic Hospital with his own money in 1844 (CMG Worldwide). His mother, Jane Francesca Elgee achieved acclaim writing revolutionary poems under the pseudonym Speranza and translating “Sidonia the Sorceress” by Wilhelm Meinhold (CMG Worldwide). It is believed that Wilde relished the translation and uses it as a basis for some of the dark parts of his own work (CMG …show more content…
Wilde writes in a way that describes the characters in not only the physical aspects but through actions and their words. The reader gets to know the characters as if they were real people with real struggles, relationships, and fears. Wilde showed the innocence of Dorian at the beginning through faint smiles, blushes, and romantic language. Then a change was shown when suddenly Dorian knew all the opium dens around town. Wilde also displayed the disfunction in the relationship between Lord Henry and his wife in only a few lines. For example, Lady Henry said, “I always hear Harry’s views from his friends. It is the only way I get to know of them,” (Wilde, 62). Since Lord Henry is detailed to be a person who talks as much as he can, it is slightly heart breaking that he does not talk to his wife often
His renown could also be from his parents because before he was born both were talented and successful. Sir William Wilde by the age of thirty was a well known surgeon, an author of two books, and a traveler of North Africa and the Middle East (CMG Worldwide). He opened a Ophthalmic Hospital with his own money in 1844 (CMG Worldwide). His mother, Jane Francesca Elgee achieved acclaim writing revolutionary poems under the pseudonym Speranza and translating “Sidonia the Sorceress” by Wilhelm Meinhold (CMG Worldwide). It is believed that Wilde relished the translation and uses it as a basis for some of the dark parts of his own work (CMG …show more content…
Wilde writes in a way that describes the characters in not only the physical aspects but through actions and their words. The reader gets to know the characters as if they were real people with real struggles, relationships, and fears. Wilde showed the innocence of Dorian at the beginning through faint smiles, blushes, and romantic language. Then a change was shown when suddenly Dorian knew all the opium dens around town. Wilde also displayed the disfunction in the relationship between Lord Henry and his wife in only a few lines. For example, Lady Henry said, “I always hear Harry’s views from his friends. It is the only way I get to know of them,” (Wilde, 62). Since Lord Henry is detailed to be a person who talks as much as he can, it is slightly heart breaking that he does not talk to his wife often