THE BOOK REPORT: The Lessons of 'Dorian Gray'

Dorian Gray has been given a gift, a painting that will age for him, taking the marks of life and leaving his body untouched. What will Dorian do with a gift that grants him such power? The path he chose condemned him to a superficial life filled with disappointment.

The author of The Picture of Dorian Gray was the famous playwright, Oscar Wilde. An Irish writer born in the later half of the Victorian period (1854). His lifestyle was flamboyant and excessive by even modern standards and, in an era with extremely rigid moral expectations, brought down the judgment and persecution of his nation.

Arguing that it was unjust for a homosexual person to be brought to court for his sexual preference is obvious. But the past cannot be undone, and Wilde's case, ending in his conviction and two year's sentence to hard labor, is no exception. The prison term left him without money, a reputation that effectively ended his writing career, and a broken spirit. He gave up on his artistic pursuits after release and died three years later. It was only after his death, and a growing acceptance of his lifestyle, that his work grew to its current level of acceptance and prominence.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is the story of a young man convinced that the only thing in life worth loving is beauty and that corruption and decay are the enemies of this love. Armed with a portrait which allows him to maintain his charming good looks, he travels across Europe, enjoying the pursuit of pleasure. His travels lead him from the upper crust of his culture to the depths of opium dens complete with prostitutes and junkies. His painting takes the damage brought on by his lifestyle, morphing into an evil, withered display of what Gray has become. The story ends with Dorian choosing to reform, only to find that the damage done to his soul is too great; he has been marked indelibly.

Wilde's strength as a writer is revealed in his book's main character. Dorian Gray is a twisted psyche that plunges through his tragic life in pursuit of a perfection that he cannot achieve without the superficial help of his charmed portrait. He worships beauty, but is incapable of grasping its true nature. He seeks the appearance of love but fails to understand the depths of devotion, instead flitting from lover to lover. His understanding of life is as complete as his own good looks: skin-deep.

This book, written over 100 years ago, has lessons that our own culture should have learned long ago. Beauty is a fleeting thing. We are temporal and it is within our nature to fade and wither, to pass from the shine of youth into the wizened countenance of the aged. Limbs fail, skin wrinkles, strength subsides, it is the way of life and no portrait can provide the lessons learned on that journey. 5 of 5.

Dan Vaughn is an avid reader and book critic for The Monitor. Follow his Twitter @55pages or e-mail him at withknivesout@gmail.com.