Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde wrote the famous novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. In around sophomore year of high school, my English class was forced to do a book report on some influential big shot who inspired, provoked or awed those in their time and in the times to come. I looked down the list of possibilities and came across Dorian Gray. Well the plot summary sounded fascinating enough. In the following few days i had devoured the satirical and witty piece of work. When finished i had come to one conclusion: The guy who came up with this must be one pessimistic womanizer (i later discovered he enjoyed defiling men as well). There is no way anyone could claim that it was not a unique person who would write about and develop the character of such a charismatic dick...which is exactly what Dorian Gray was.

Basically for those who don't know: Dorian Gray is a self absorbed sycophant who in his narcissism, has a painting done of him. Initially, his incentive to have this painting done was so that he could admire himself as a beautiful spectacle on the wall. But soon he grew to detest the painting because it showed exactly what he was. He committed downright immoral and appalling things and oddly enough, it was the painting that absorbed the aging, the guilt and the self mutilation. So Dorian Gray hid away his self portrait, and lived on indefatigably while patronizing those who were less beautiful then him. Towards the end Dorian meets his death when he unveils the painting to discover an old and hideously disfigured man. He stabs the painting and the reader is left to ponder the ending where Dorian Gray is discovered lying on the ground with a knife plunged into his heart, not as a beautiful young man but as what he saw in the portrait.

Just for kicks i googled some Oscar Wilde quotes on women:

"One should never trust a woman who tells one her real age. A woman who would tell one that, would tell one anything."
-- “A Woman of No Importance”

"Crying is the refuge of plain women but the ruin of pretty ones."
-- “Lady Windermere's Fan”

"Men know life too early. Women know life too late. That is the difference between men and women."
-- “A Woman of No Importance”

"Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood."
-- “The Sphinx Without a Secret”

"It takes a thoroughly good woman to do a thoroughly stupid thing."
-- “Lady Windermere's Fan”

"I don't know that women are always rewarded for being charming. I think they are usually punished for it!"
-- “An Ideal Husband”

"I don't think there is a woman in the world who would not be a little flattered if one made love to her. It is that which makes women so irresistibly adorable."
-- “A Woman of No Importance”

"My dear young lady, there was a great deal of truth, I dare say, in what you said, and you looked very pretty while you said it, which is much more important."
-- “A Woman of No Importance”

"Women give to men the very gold of their lives. But they invariably want it back in such very small change."
-- “The Picture of Dorian Gray”

"I am sick of women who love one. Women who hate one are much more interesting."
-- “The Picture of Dorian Gray”

"I prefer women with a past. They're always so damned amusing to talk to."
-- “Lady Windermere's Fan”