The story takes place in Basil Hallward’s London studio. His studio was filled with the smell of roses. The breeze during summer moved the trees which made hissing sounds in his garden. The room had the smell of mainly lilacs. Basil, as a painter, liked to surround himself with beautiful things. The story takes place in the 19th century in London.
Dorian Gray is the most important character in the book. Throughout the story, readers can see the transformation of his life, from a nice, charming man, to a vicious monster. He was handsome, with blue eyes and gold coloured hair. The book described him as having “an aura of purity and youth that enveloped him”. I feel that he is too easily influenced. Each time he tries to change for the better, Sir Henry will eventually manage to discourage him. Near the end of the book, he did many bad things like taking drugs, and murdering a number of people. From the beginning to the end, we can see his character change from good to bad.
An exciting part of the story is the last part where he was reflecting on the things he had done. He knew that he had long corrupted himself and had also exerted an evil influence on others. His actions kept coming back into his head and words also flashbacked to him. He thought about the “death of his own soul” and wanted a new life. His thoughts confused him and the supernatural painting had scared him and reminded him of the people he killed. When he uncovered the painting, “a cry of pain and indignation broke from his lips”. Finally, at the ending, he made a fateful decision.
I think “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is an interesting book as it tells of the fate of a good man who suffered in the end because of the decisions he made and the influence he received. The ending is quite unexpected. This book is good for most and those who understand the scenes which are based in the 19th century. I think that this book is worth reading.
