The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray

This book is incredibly well written with great ideas and themes throughout. The only problem I have is the book itself is a paradox, which I will explain shortly.

Wilde presents us with the damaging effects immorality and sin have on our soul. We are shown a grave image of the grotesque people we will become through the practice of vanity, love of oneself, living only for pleasure, etc.

Influence is a strong theme in the book revealing the power we give to others. These themes motivate us to avoid living a decadent life after seeing the degradation of Dorian's soul through his portrait, and more importantly the concrete effects: loneliness, remorse, paranoia, moral weight, the effects we have on others and the dangers that brings, etc. We walk away from the book not wanting to be Dorian Gray, selling our souls for pleasure and passion.

The paradox comes from the Preface.

“There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.”

This is a moral book, despite Wilde arguing that books should exists for themselves and the beauty contained within. Dorian takes immoral actions that lead to disastrous consequences. Wilde seems to be passing moral judgment on those actions.

I strongly believe that art for arts sake should not be the primary motivation in art. Art is beautiful because it connects and elevates our experience in the real world. It influences us for great good, or evil. Of course there are moments when art is beautiful and nothing more; a landscape painting can be beautiful without passing moral judgment. However, I can't agree that books or art are never moral or immoral, especially when this book is filled with questions and analyses of morality.