The picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde is one of the world’s most unique authors of british literature.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of his best stories. This story was criticisez in british society,
and preised esspecialy by american society. The picture of Dorian Gray has been made into a
film no more that fifteen times. In my opinion, the best version is the last one, that was made in
2009.

So, Dorian Gray is a British fantasy-horror drama film based on Oscar Wilde's 1890 novel. The
adaptation is directed by Oliver Parker. It tells the story of an attractive Englishman whose image
is captured in an wanderful painting that keeps him from ageing. The story is about a man
(Dorian Gray) who involuntary makes a pact with the devil.

This moment is one of my favourite, when Dorian Gray reproach the painter that ( i will qouate
it) : “I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die. I am jealous of the portrait you have
painted of me. Why should it keep what I must lose? Why did you paint it? ”

After the pact with devil, all the scars from his sins will appear on a painting of him, but never
on his own face and body. He will stay forever young and handsome for 18 years, but when he
looks at the painting he sees the effects of his sins. The picture of Dorian Gray is a picture of his
ugly soul.

So, Dorian's wish - to be forever young- comes true. For 18 years, Dorian does not change. In this period he does
many many bad things and he does not feel guilty for anything he has done. Later, Dorian decides to stop doing bad
things in the hopes that this will make his portrait become beautiful again. So Dorian picks up a knife and destroys
the portrait. When his servants hear a scream from Dorian's room, they call the police. The police find Dorian's
body on the floor with a stab wound in his heart. His body has become very aged. However, the portrait has
returned to the way it was when it was first painted.

I like that in this movie its clearly shown Dorian’s transformation from a pure, innocent man to a
man full of vices and sins.

I understand why this book and movie provoked such contradictory reactions. First of all, i will
show some ideas, some quates from the book, founded and in movie, whitch i considere very
bold and courageous for that period. i will read some of them

Quates

1 Most people are boring and stupid.”

2. A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her.”

3.When a woman marries again, it is because she detested her first husband. When a man
marries again, it is because he adored his first wife. Women try their luck; men risk theirs.”
4. Man is many things, but he is not rational.”

6. When we are happy, we are always good, but when we are good, we are not always happy.”

8. Love! What is love? It's nothing. It's just a word. It doesn't exist. Only pleasure is important.”

9. Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid
of nothing.”

Also this movie (from 2009) was very discused becouse is full of nudity, orgy, violence, and
perversions, including a short homosexual scene between Dorian Gray and Basil (the painter). It
was very dangerous for Oscar Wilde to write such a moment, becouse as you know,
homosexuality was a criminal offense at this time in England and remained ilegal until 1960s.
(Oscar Wilde also was a homosexual, but he kept this in secret).

This movie, this book is one of my favourite, becouse it changed my mind, it helped me to
understand that “Some things are more precious because they don't last long.", and we should
appreciate every stage of our life, not to be focused on (outer) exteriour beauty but to be focused
on beauty of our soul.

So, i will finish my presentation with a fragment from my favourite poem ,,Invictus" by BY
WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY. (also a british poet)

It matters not how strait the gate, (nu mai conteaza cat de aspru e drumul)

How charged with punishments the scroll, (ce liste de pedepse vin mereu)

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.