"Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril."-Oscar Wilde

That's from page two of The Picture Of Dorian Gray.

I just bought that book today,and it will be the first time I've read this infamous story,written by Oscar Wilde. It was first published in 1891,after many revisions,and it is the only novel that has ever been published by Wilde.

I have,however,seen the 1945 film adaptation...

Starring Hurd Hatfield as the lead role of Dorian Gray

I'm not all that familiar with any of Hatfield's other work,but the film also stars
Angela Lansbury,Peter Lawford,and Donna Reed.
All well known actors of their day.

THE PLOT

The main character,Dorian Gray,is very young,and extremely easily influenced.
He comes to believe that life is only worth living if you are young and wealthy.
His friend Basil paints a portrait of him as a gift,and Dorian makes a wish that
his portrait might age instead of himself,so that he could remain young forever.
Time passes,and Dorian falls in love with a girl,but is convinced to break her heart
in pursuit of "more important things."He leaves her,and soon after hears that she
has killed herself.Rather than grieve,he chooses to concentrate on worldly things
instead.He soon notices that his picture is changing.Scared,he locks it away in
his upstairs childhood bedroom.
Time continues to pass,and Dorian continues to remain young,even though he
should be aging.He occasionally looks at his portrait,which has become uglier
as he has become more sinful,cold,and hedonistic over the years.He does not
change his ways,but the portrait weighs on his mind.Eventually,his paranoia
over it causes him to murder a close friend.He feels his responsibility for the
death,and realizes the person he has become.Wishing to spare the girl he now
loves,he stabs his portrait in the heart,thereby breaking the spell and killing himself.

THE PORTRAIT

Before:

After:

It's actually a fascinating tale,and I'll be sure to post what I think of the book.