PROMPTS
The Picture Of Dorian Gray
Part 1 of 2: Quotes To Contemplate On
Today I’ve been reading — or should I say re-reading — The Picture of Dorian Gray. The first time I read this book by Oscar Wilde was back in High School, when we were “forced” to do so for our English class. For reasons unbeknownst to me, this book has stayed in my psyche ever since.
I wanted to re-read it because there was something fascinating about the plot and the character development of Dorian Gray. Here’s the gist of the story: Dorian, upon viewing the portrait of himself painted by his good friend, became so envious of the beauty portrayed therein, that he basically cursed the painting, by uttering these words:
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? (…) Oh if it were only the other way! If the picture could change, and I could be always what I am now!
By some mysterious power, his wish was granted and the portrait of him bore the brunt of a life led in “sin”, pleasure and crime.
While reading this gem of a book, I decided to take notes — writing down metaphors or phrases that caught my eye. Today another idea emerged: to share some of these quotes with you, as I viewed them as juicy prompts that you, the writers, can weave your magic with!
So, that being said, I give you the various quotes that you can either contemplate on further and write an essay on — or maybe even turn them into a poetry piece. Whatever you choose to do with it, be sure to tag me so I can read your creations!
Quotes I picked from The Picture of Dorian Gray
- “All art is at once surface and symbol. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.”
- “Genius lasts longer than beauty. (…) In the wild struggle of existence, we want to have something that endures, and so we fill our minds with rubbish and facts, in the silly hope of keeping our place…”
- “Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is the faithless who know love’s tragedies.”
- “There is no such thing as a good influence… All influence is immoral… Because to influence a person is to give him one’s soul.”
- “The aim of life is self-development. To realise one’s nature perfectly — that is what each of us is here for.”
- “…the way of paradoxes is the way of truth. To test Reality, we must see it on the tight-rope.”
- “The advantage of the emotions is that they lead us astray, and the advantage of science is that it is not emotional.”
- “To get back one’s youth, one has to merely repeat one’s follies.”
- “…punctuality is the thief of time.”
- “Was the soul a shadow seated in the house of sin? Or was the body really in the soul, as Giordano Bruno thought?”
- “The reason we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid of ourselves. The basis for optimism is sheer terror.”
- “As for a spoiled life, no life is spoiled but one whose growth is arrested.”
- “Pleasure is Nature’s test, her sign of approval. When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy.”
- “To be good is to be in harmony with one’s self. Discord is to be forced to be in harmony with others.”
- “The real tragedy of the poor is that they can afford nothing but self-denial. Beautiful things, like beautiful sins, are the privilege of the rich.”
- “Women, as some witty Frenchman once put it, inspire us with the desire to do masterpieces, and always prevent us from carrying them out.”
Any writers up for the challenge? Jefferey D. Moore, James Beaufait, Michael Rhodes, Gary L Ellis, Thief, pockett dessert, Yana Bostongirl, Angelina Der Arakelian, Kelly Aluna Martone, Harley Bell, Katie Michaelson, Ida Eira Johannesen, Ida Kristiansen Balle, Prazunt, A A McRae. Stay tuned for part 2 of the quotes. Enjoy!
