Reading the Classics discussion

Discussion thread for C15-20, the conclusion of The Portrait of Dorian Gray

If you've been reading The Portrait of Dorian Gray, you should be finishing up right around now. There are a lot of parallels between Dorian and the main character in the Dreiser some of us are also reading. The primary differences, at least to this point in Dreiser's book, appear to be that Dorian has some real regret, and then gets what's coming to him in a big way.

Aestheticists believed that art exists for its own sake and is divorced from morality. Dorian clearly doesn't believe this, as Basil's portrait of him serves as his literal conscience or moral compass. It literally shows him the consequences of his sins, for which he believes he can never be forgiven. So it appears Wilde's novel takes the opposing view to aestheticism, emphasizing the connection between art and morality. Wilde would have been very interested in this paradox, and emphasizes it through Dorian, who in his public life very much lives the life of an aesthete.

There's a lot more going on in this last quarter of the novel, but I'd rather hear from someone else (anyone? anyone?). And if I'm the only one who read it, there's no point in going on anyway :-)

I read this for the first time about ten years ago and I really didn't care for it at the time. I completely enjoyed it this time around.

Wilde shows what happens when someone is coming "undone". Dorian tries to quiet his conscience by hiding his portrait, yet immersed himself in music, art, alcohol, sex, drugs...anything to quiet his inner voice.

Great pick!

I enjoyed how at the beginning of the novel, Lord Henry was the worldly one who knew the most about life and living, and at the end he almost seems almost naïve in comparison to Dorian.

Dorian's hope of seeing improvement in the painting after having done one small, good thing made perfect sense with his now distorted soul. The good action being simply his abstaining from doing something bad.
He doesn't want to put any effort into being a better person, he just wants to be absolved without having to do anything.

Amle wrote: "I enjoyed how at the beginning of the novel, Lord Henry was the worldly one who knew the most about life and living, and at the end he almost seems almost naïve in comparison to Dorian.

Dorian's ..."

Even worse! The 'good' action, he realizes, was only done out of curiosity: he wanted to see the impact. He didn't do it for any good or noble purpose at all, and the realization of this is crushing to him: what's the point, then?

Closing thoughts?