Reading the Classics discussion

Today we begin the November Monthly Read: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar WIlde. Let's read chapters 1-4 and use this thread for discussion.

I read this book for the first time about ten years ago and I was lukewarm at best. I've finished the first four chapters and I have a much greater appreciation this far!

Erika wrote: "I read this book for the first time about ten years ago and I was lukewarm at best. I've finished the first four chapters and I have a much greater appreciation this far!"

I've actually never read Dorian Gray (or Eliot, to be honest), tho I know the premise of the book and something of Eliot's philosophy, which is evident right from the beginning of the novel.

Eliot believed art and beauty existed for their own sake. I think he called it 'aestheticism': art serves no moral purpose and any form of debauchery was justified in pursuit of beauty, which to Henry seems synonymous with art. Enthralled with Basil's obsession with Dorian as an inspiration for his art, Henry seems to view Dorian as an opportunity to create a masterpiece of his own, whether it comes to good or ill. He sets out to mold Dorian, urging him to seek experience and beauty for the sake of it, ignoring all consequence, and seems intent on analyzing the results to reach some conclusions about the nature of psychology.

Knowing what I know of the basic premise of the book, I can't wait to see it all unfurl. The setup has been magnificent and, though I set the reading plan to assure a similar number of pages each week, it seems chapters 1-4 were a great place to begin and end the first week.

The first four chapters were filled with homoeroticism - Wilde was a known homosexual and I absolutely loved the insinuations regarding Basil's true feelings about Dorian. I kept reminding myself this was written in 1890 and England was quite conservative at this time!

Erika wrote: "The first four chapters were filled with homoeroticism - Wilde was a known homosexual and I absolutely loved the insinuations regarding Basil's true feelings about Dorian. I kept reminding myself t..."

That's true! I noticed it also, among all the male characters, but dismissed it as a plot point once Dorian fell head over heels for the actress. The word dandy is used more than once. I guess Eliot found it easiest to write from personal experience.