The Picture of Dorian Gray, tells the story of a beautiful young man, Dorian Gray, who, after seeing his own portrait painted by artist Basil Hallward, makes a Faustian bargin, wishing that the portrait would age and bear the marks of his sins instead of him, allowing him to remain eternally youthful and handsome while indulging in a life of decadent pleasure; as Dorian's morality deteriortes, his portrait becomes increasingly hideous, ultimately leading to his self-destruction when he finally decides to destroy the painting, which symbolically represents his corrupted soul.
Having just seen the play in London, with the Australian actress Sarah Snook, a one woman show, where the interplay of modern social media and the obsession with self was used as a metaphor within the play. The difference between the play and the book was interesting. Wilde was a playwrite, this book seemed formulaic, where the play appears nuanced. Lord Henry comes across as a most unpleasant charachter. Every page a quote.
Words used to describe it: complex, shallow, cruel, vain, selfish, emotionally draining, killed by his soul
Marks out of 10: between 7 - 9
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Jamacia Inn by Daphne du Maurier
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Emma's 4th Sept
