Wilde's Dorian Gray, and finally got through it last night. At some point, I was having deep conversations with two people in the same week...both told me I should read it. It's a story about obsession, youth, art, love -- sin...this beautifully written, morbid tale about a man and a magnificent painted portrait. When he sees himself in the portrait, he gives his soul to never age - to look as he does in the portrait forever - to have the portrait age instead. His wish comes true, only over time, the portrait begins to change, reflect his sins until it and he become something grotesque altogether.
~ People say sometimes that beauty is only superficial. That may be so. But at least it is not so superficial as Thought is. To me, beauty is the wonder of wonders. It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances. The true mystery of the world is the visible, the the invisible... Yes, Mr. Gray, the gods have been good to you. But what the gods give they quickly take away. You have only a few years in which to live really, perfectly and fully. When your youth goes, your beauty will go with it, and then you will suddenly discover that there are no triumphs left for you, or have to content yourself with those mean triumphs that the memory of your past will make more bitter than defeats. Every month as it wanes brings you nearer to something dreadful. Time is jealous of you, and wars against your lilies and roses. You will become sallow, and hollow-cheeked, and dull-eyed. You will suffer horribly... Ah! Realize your youth while you have it. Don't squander the gold of your days, listening to the tedious, trying to improve the hopeless failure, or giving away your life to the ignorant, the common, and the vulgar. These are the sickly aims, the false ideals, of our age. Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing...a new Hedonism ~
