The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

This summer, I chose the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and my main reason for choosing this novel was because I was intrigued by Dorian Gray's tragic fall from innocence to immorality. I was also interested in reading a novel with a character who cared enough about their appearance to sell their soul and learning what led them to make that decision.

Dorian Gray as a whole is very thought-provoking and provides a greater commentary on humanity. In particular, the character of Lord Henry Wotton is crucial to how Wilde expresses his opinions about the world we live in. For example, it is through Lord Henry that the novel is able to comment on the struggle between Beauty and Genius, and even going so far as to give both sides of the argument. It also shows how society has not changed much since Wilde wrote this novel because people still place a great deal of importance on outward appearances, proving that some struggles are timeless in the way they affect people in the past, the present, and most likely the future as well.

Because of the emphasis on outward appearances and the physical world, the imagery in this novel is also very descriptive. Wilde has complete pages dedicated to the description of different people, places, and things and uses colorful and imaginative phrases to accomplish this. Consequently, Wilde creates such a vivid image with his words that the audience is able to envision themselves as a part of his world.

The novel also has a driven plot with many different conflicts along the way and ultimately ends with Dorian’s tragic death. Each time Dorian is faced with a choice, the audience wills him to choose the morally right option. But Dorian’s flawed character that pushes him deeper and deeper into sin eventually causes the audience to realize that he will never receive redemption, except with his death. Therefore, the ending to this novel also seems “right” since it offers the feeling of closure that the audience expects.

The complex character of Dorian is also another great strength of the novel and is what draws the reader into the fictional world that Wilde has created. Because Dorian represents the inner struggle of wanting to stay beautiful, each person who reads this novel will be able to relate to him in some way and understand his motives, even if they do not approve of his actions. And as a result of the audience recognizing his struggles as a mirror of their own, the audience is much more sympathetic towards Dorian as well as more emotionally invested in his well being.

But no novel is without its weaknesses. One of this novel’s weaknesses is the fact that it requires a specific type of reader and audience; it is a very serious novel and not something that just anyone can read and enjoy. For example, the novel contained many references that some people might have difficulties understanding the more subtle connotations that are connected with that reference. However, if the reader is educated enough to be able to recognize those references, they will also be able to appreciate the sophisticated writing style of the novel, including the change in style in chapter ten of the novel. All in all, Dorian Gray is a captivating novel, but is not right for everyone.

In conclusion, Dorian Gray is an excellent example of great storytelling, and the strengths of this novel are more numerous than its weaknesses.

Memorable Novels

1. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert was a brilliant novel. Even though this novel covers the entirety of Rachel Kalama's life, I felt as if the story was over in an instant because of the way it makes you want to keep reading and keep turning those pages.

2. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher really captured my attention because of its unique writing style. Once it did that, it also helped me to rethink about how I treat other people.

3. almost perfect by Brian Katcher deals with a topic that you don't really see a lot of people writing about and the controversy surrounding this topic makes this a fascinating read.

4. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is the perfect combination of wit, humour, and struggle.

5. 1984 by George Orwell as a whole was so completely different from anything I had read before and as a result, made a big impression on me.

6. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult was an amazing novel and had a great plot twist at the end that I never saw coming.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

This summer I read House Rules, a novel by Jodi Picoult. I thought this was a perfect example of excellent writing and in particular, I enjoyed this brief passage from my mother's point of view:

     When Jacob slept, the slate was wiped clean, and he could have been any child. Any ordinary child.
     Instead, during his waking hours, he was extraordinary. And that truly was the definition for him -- outside the perimeter of the norm. At some point in the English language, that word had acquired positive connotation. Why hadn't Asperger's?

This novel dealt with the difficulties of a family with a seventeen year old teenage son with Asperger's Syndrome, which is actually on the autism spectrum, and  no one in the family is not affected by his condition and it actually caused the separation of the parents. And to add to all this, Jacob is also being accused for a murder and his Asperger's is preventing him from communicating effectively with the people that could help save him. But despite these circumstances, Jacob's mother refuses to give up and perseveres in her quest to not only show the rest of the world her son's innocence, but also to change how people view Jacob and kids that aren't bad but just are not the same as everyone else. Therefore, I think this novel is an example of excellent literature because it has a main character that does not have any superpowers but still shows the audience what a true hero is. This quote in particular shows how while the mother acknowledges reality and the situations that they have been placed in, she still maintains her optimism for a better future. And despite the simplicity of the language throughout the novel, it still causes the reader to stop and think about what exactly they are reading and to question societal beliefs that they may have unconsciously adopted as their own. I also find it very interesting that it explicitly mentions the evolution of the English language and how words have connotations that can change with the passage of time. Essentially, this novel accomplishes what I think all great literature should, it engages the reader and raises questions about the world we live in, all while telling a great story about characters that we learn to love and adore.