First half of the semester: The Picture of Dorian Gray. By Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde. The portrait of Dorian Gray. 

We were asked to read a classic book from a given list over Christmas. I chose the book the picture of Dorian Gray. I absolutely fell in love with it. I always find it hard to connect to certain books depending on the writer but this one I was completely enthralled with from beginning to end. Oscar Wilde combination of wit and intellect make this book a classic. The great attention to detail and descriptive content Surround you with the story.
The book is a dark tale based in London In the late Victorian era. I will be looking at Victorian male beauty and style from this era. 

My chosen character is Dorian Gray. I did want to choose Lord Henry Wotton but I feel that Dorian Grays character has more Creative leeway. Some of his experiences I feel can help me create an exciting and interesting interpretation. I do feel however that They are almost one character. Lord Henry remains unchanged through out the book. He still has his ideas and philosophies but its as if he is living through Dorians character. You don't hear much of Lord Henry's activities. It seems, as the book goes on, that Henry still takes part in affluent London. Still attends dinners, and social gatherings. Whilst Dorian seems to be the one living out Lord Henry's philosophy. 

Dorian Gray is a young and beautiful young man. He is the grandson of Lord Kelso, his mother was Lady Margaret Devereaux whom, apparently was an incredibly beautiful girl who men were frantic over when she then ran away with 'a penniless fellow; a mere nobody, sir, a subaltern (someone who is socially and politically outside of the power structures of there hometown) in a foot regiment, or something of that kind.'  This man ended up dieing in a brawl a few months later. It was rumoured that Dorians grandfather had paid someone to kill his daughters husband. This was hushed up though and and Kelso brought his daughter back with him, who in turn never spoke to him again. She died a year later leaving dorian. Nothing is known about how he grew up or who with but it is mentioned in the book that he received ownership of the family property Selby. My thoughts are that he must have had some sort of communication with his grandfather or someone in charge of his estate, to still be able to keep the property. Dorian comes across as very vain and very easily influenced. He seems spoilt and naive of the world outside of his own. The way he absorbs everything Lord Henry Says is a clear sign of this. 

Through to the end of the book it seems that Lord Henry Wotton is the only friend Dorian has. Henry  isn't effected by Dorian and as much as he likes Dorian its as if he see's him as more of a human experiment then an actual human being.  He gives Dorian a book that will influence his behaviour for the next 18 years. Dorian begins a life of experimentation and no morals. Leaving people dead, angry or completely on a downward spiral in his wake. 

I dont particularly like Dorian's character. As much as he is smart having spent most of his life researching his different obsessions. He doesn't seem wise with life, people and personal growth and awareness. He is completely selfish and unaware of the affect his choices make on other people.  He goes about life doing whatever he wants with no thoughts of the concequences and I did find myself disappointed when James Vane (Sybil Vane's brother, Sybil killed herself after Dorian made her fall for him and then he left her.) died and didn't get his revenge on Dorian. His character chose a life of immorality and ended up spending a lot of time in the darker seedier parts of london. Opium drug dens etc.

My Initial Idea and Thoughts.

I really want to play into this with my final design. I want to incorporate this into a dream sequence. In my movie I would have a dream sequence that Dorian has. In the weeks past seeing the picture change for the first time (because of his cruelty to Sybil Vane), Dorian Contemplates what it would be like if he destroyed the picture and he took the burdens of ageing and sin back. He is having a battle with himself and is terrified of seeing the portrait change, but he is also terrified of seeing his own face change. I thought that in my movie he would have a dream where he was back to normal and ageing like everyone else. In this dream his face has taken the character of himself with all of his awful deeds too. He would pass the mirror in his attic room where the portrait use to be kept and he would despise his own reflection. All the colour would have gone from his face, his eyes and cheek bones hollow, His lips greying, and his skin broken. The darkness of his insides seeping through his skin.
 
Image Ref:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ae/8f/f5/ae8ff52ba97ce23d1f41b8403d89eaa9.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/72/bf/7e/72bf7e4b442d9046dfa53a46e4ba9c89.jpg
http://img14.deviantart.net/ce4d/i/2004/364/5/0/the_face_of_dorian_gray_by_kenmeyerjr.jpg
http://41.media.tumblr.com/154c89dce449469d1657560e71f19d81/tumblr_o3nnr4dpyE1qzkm8ro1_1280.jpg
http://impakter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/e56d5ae916f971b8d2a983db585ae29c.jpg
https://image.artrescape.com/artwork/7562/2013-07-31/[29]_untitled_charcoal__on_canvas_72.5_x_60_cm_2013.jpg