“DORIAN GRAY"
Oscar Wilde's one and only novel is considered to be a masterpiece of English literature.
In the year 1884 Wilde frequently visited the studio of a painter, Warld by name. It happened so that one of Warld's brothers at the time was young man of unusual beauty. Each afternoon Wilde watched the work advance enchanting everybody with brilliant talk, until at last the portrait was finished and its interesting original had gone his way. "What a pity", — sighed Wilde, — "that such a glorious creature should ever grow old". — "Yes, it is indeed", — answered Mr. Warld, — "how delightful it would be if he could remain exactly as he is, while the portrait aged withered... wish it might be so".
In this story we find the kernel of the intrigue of Wilde's novel. As a matter of fact the novel reminds more of a psychological essay. The three principal characters — Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotton — discuss the relations between Art and Life, between Beauty and Morality.
At the beginning of the novel Dorian is a wonderfully handsome youth, pure and unspotted by the world. Basil and Lord Henry, two absolutely different men — fight for Dorian.
Basil Hallward is a talented painter. He doesn't care much for the good things of life. Basil is not an interesting talker, sometimes he seems boring and one-sided. In spite of this Basil is much more human and kind-hearted than brilliant Lord Henry. Basil suffers seeing how Dorian fails under Lord Henry's influence and changes into a heartless dandy. He tries to awake Dorian's conscience, to save him from moral degradation. To Basil Beauty is a source of inspiration, a source of hard and interesting creative work. Dorian's wonderful face is a specimen of perfect beauty and Basil expresses it in Dorian’s portrait.
Contrary to Basil Lord Henry doesn't recognize any ideals or laws of morality. Beauty to him is a means of achieving pleasure. "It is better to be beautiful than to be good". — says Lord Henry. He persuades Dorian that his youth and beauty enable him to live a life full of pleasures. "Realize your youth while you have it... Be always searching new sensations. Be afraid of nothing. The world belongs to you for a season!"
Lord Henry's cynical philosophy corrupts Dorian. Thirst for pleasure makes him selfish and cruel, he commits terrible crimes. Dorian's appearance, however, doesn't betray the secret of the dirty life he lives. His face and his body remain young and beautiful. Only his portrait changes. The features expressing selfishness and cruelty appear in it. When Dorian notices the ugly changes in the face of his soul, he is horrified. "I want to be good", — says he to Lord Henry. — I can't bear the idea of my soul being hideous". To be good — and only then the face in the portrait will remain beautiful. Does this mean that Good and Beauty are inseparable. Contrary to Wilde's philosophical views the novel answers "yes".But Dorian has no strength to fulfil his wish — to remain good. The religion of amorality drags its victim down the crooked path of man's ghastly underworld.The knife with which Dorian stabs the portrait puts an end to the horrible and ugly life. The hideous corpse of an old man — that's what remains of Dorian. His portrait, however, shines again in all wonder of his pure youth and beauty.
Vocabulary
Enchant — fascinate or when somebody attracts somebody's attention,
wither — fade or when the beauty disappears,
kernel — the main point of the story,
specimen — the example of somebody or something,
ghastly — ugly, horrible,
stab — to have a sharp thing in the hand and hit with it
corrupt — to become spoiled,
hideous — ugly, disgusting,
corpse — the body of the dead man.