Dorian Gray
May 11, 2006
Yesterday's post pit the young against the old. The ebb against the flow. The Yin against the Yang. The nails against the chalkboard.
One book that illustrates the paranoia of growing older is, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
In the book, Dorian sees a painting of himself and is so taken by its youth and beauty that he promises his Soul, if he could always remain like the picture.
It shows the darker side of man in his quest to serve his vanity and lose his morals. How far does one have to plummet to satisfy his ego and succumb to his own demons? You would be surprised?
Is that the time God should step in or step back? Can we save ourselves? Can we face the demise of outer beauty? The mirror distorts our image of who we really are?
If our true beauty were reflected in a piece of glass, we would only be one-dimensional. It is that same glass that can cut like a thousand swords and julienne our Souls.
Written exquisitely in Oscar Wilde style, the story is riveting throughout its compelling twist at the end. It's a story worth reading just to get to know Oscar Wilde if you're not familiar with him.
Some quotes in the book are as follows:
"The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young."
"Young men want to be faithful, and are not; old men want to be faithless, and cannot."
"Genius lasts longer than beauty. That accounts for the fact that we all take such pains to overeducate ourselves."
6 comments:
Mr. Wilde is arguably one of Ireland's greatest talents. He also had a keen eye for the dark side.
Hey Alexys,
What a grea homage to the grand Oscar Wilde *bowing*!
My dear, I am nearly speechless...yet I have a few things to say lol.
This book shows how low a man is willing to go in order to eternally be something that he already is only ephemerally. Dorian was too focused on his own external reflection, instead of being concerned with his inner reflection (and by the time he realised this it was too late, he had stooped so low, that he found himself in the deepest misery - the scene where he strolls through the streets at night, glancing at the prostitutes and the drunks, is one of the best descriptions I have ever read).
Dorian had a bad seed in him. His nature was already twisted before he promised his soul, and that is why he did what he did.
I always remember the way he treated his fiancée (poor young lady): it made me want to punch his nose.
And it is not that he didn't have people to advise him, he did; however he didn't take hid...oh, no...he was too obsessed by himself.
And you know what the irony of it is? If he had been a good person, a wonderful being he could've been young "forever" (know what I mean?).
This marvellous book denotes a profound knowledge of the human soul (when vain, shallow, void of moral); and I often imagine Oscar Wilde observing life the way I do: like reading a big book!
"The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young." oh yeah; when the soul feels young still yet the body is telling us "no, you can't stretch the leg like that anymore!"....
"Young men want to be faithful, and are not; old men want to be faithless, and cannot." - profound. So profound that I refuse to ruin it with further words, let's drink these precious words...*closing my eyes*.
My dear, great article!
Wilde Cheers
Max,
"This book shows how low a man is willing to go in order to eternally be something that he already is only ephemerally. Dorian was too focused on his own external reflection, instead of being concerned with his inner reflection (and by the time he realised this it was too late, he had stooped so low, that he found himself in the deepest misery."
He was obsessed. Obsessed to the point of madness and the complexity of his obsession was executed marvelously through his desire for perfection.
"...the scene where he strolls through the streets at night, glancing at the prostitutes and the drunks, is one of the best descriptions I have ever read)."
Yes, Mr. Wilde has great descriptions; the salt of any good writer is detail.
"Dorian had a bad seed in him. His nature was already twisted before he promised his soul, and that is why he did what he did. I always remember the way he treated his fiancée (poor young lady): it made me want to punch his nose."
I know, he treated her with such disdain. That was sad.
"If he had been a good person, a wonderful being he could've been young "forever" (know what I mean?)."
I know what you mean. When we are very young, we think that we can live forever, keep our looks, friends, colleagues. When we get a little older, we realize that these things we once held dear have changed or are gone forever, but if we would have nurtured love in the first place we would have that much more - an abundance. Those superficial and illusionary things never mattered.
"This marvellous book denotes a profound knowledge of the human soul (when vain, shallow, void of moral); and I often imagine Oscar Wilde observing life the way I do: like reading a big book!"
Yes. Yes. Yes.
"Young men want to be faithful, and are not; old men want to be faithless, and cannot." - profound. So profound that I refuse to ruin it with further words, let's drink these precious words...*closing my eyes*."
Joining you.
Thanks for your most insightful thoughts my dear.
Alexys,
"He was obsessed. Obsessed to the point of madness and the complexity of his obsession was executed marvelously through his desire for perfection." - ah, perfection...another chimera! Humans seem to be fascinated by chasing chimeras: eternal youth, perfection (which is impossible on earth), immortality (physicall)...*nodding*.
"Yes, Mr. Wilde has great descriptions; the salt of any good writer is detail." - I agree with you. We should call him Master Wilde.
"I know, he treated her with such disdain. That was sad." - indeed. But I always thought that that behaviour reflected a bit of Dorian's homosexuality. On the other hand we could be led to think that he was so in love with himself that his fiancée could have been seen as an intruder to that self-love.
"I know what you mean. When we are very young, we think that we can live forever, keep our looks, friends, colleagues. When we get a little older, we realize that these things we once held dear have changed or are gone forever, but if we would have nurtured love in the first place we would have that much more - an abundance. Those superficial and illusionary things never mattered." - you read me well *bowing*! Well said, my dear!
"Thanks for your most insightful thoughts my dear." - you are welcome, darling. You know that conversing with you is always a pleasure *bowing*!
Cheers
Max,
"...ah, perfection...another chimera! Humans seem to be fascinated by chasing chimeras: eternal youth, perfection (which is impossible on earth), immortality..."
Chimera - one of my favorite words and of course you are right again.
"We should call him Master Wilde.
Master Wilde it is.
"I always thought that that behaviour reflected a bit of Dorian's homosexuality. On the other hand we could be led to think that he was so in love with himself that his fiancée could have been seen as an intruder to that self-love."
That's a good point. I never knew Dorian was gay and it was years later that I found out Master Wilde was a friend of Dorothy's. (gay)
"You know that conversing with you is always a pleasure *bowing*!
The pleasure is mine. Thanks.
Pleasure Cheers
Alexys,
"Chimera - one of my favorite words and of course you are right again." - it is indeed a gorgeous word! *bowing*...
"Master Wilde it is." - it's a deal!
"That's a good point. I never knew Dorian was gay and it was years later that I found out Master Wilde was a friend of Dorothy's. (gay)" - LOL that was a great way of putting it LOL! Yes, Master Wilde was arrested and all for being Dorothy's friend (society was so hypocritical back then...worse than today).
"The pleasure is mine. Thanks." - don't mention it :D!
Delight Cheers
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