Quotations Weblog

Unshelved made a comic about one of Oscar Wilde’s most famous stories:

• Unshelved comic strip – The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray addresses two issues for me: aging and secret desires. Dorian stayed looking forever young because it was his portrait who aged for him. Because the portrait took on all the visible aspects of Dorian’s vices, he was able to chase after them with abandon without the visible markings of an evil man (scars, disease, etc.). We all must face our own secret desires and aging and the idea of escaping both is enticing.

Because Oscar Wilde’s story touches us in such a base manner, it has been beloved in literature and film adaption. You can find it on Amazon in many forms:

You can read original story at your library, on The Literature Page, or in your own book from Amazon:

• Find your local library
• Read The Picture of Dorian Gray on The Literature Page
• Buy The Picture of Dorian Gray at Amazon.com

You can also enjoy the story by watching the movie:

• Picture of Dorian Gray (1945): Starring George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed, Peter Lawford, and a very young and beautiful Angela Lansbury. Sorry, it’s only available on VHS right now.

• Picture of Dorian Gray (1973): Starring Shane Briant, Nigel Davenport, Charles Aidman, Fionnula Flanagan, and Linda Kelsey.

• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003): Starring: Sean Connery, Naseeruddin Shah, Peta Wilson, Tony Curran, Stuart Townsend. This story is not a retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray, but Dorian is a main character in this movie.

Oscar Wilde was very familiar with stifling his secret desires, so he was able to write a story that would last over a century. If you have ever feared aging or have lost your battle with your own secret desires, you will find a kindred spirit in Dorian Gray.