The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde - UPDATED REVIEW

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde  Genre : Classics Blurb (on back of book) : Oscar Wilde’s only novel is the dreamlike story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. In this celebrated work Wilde forged a devastating portrait of the effects of evil and debauchery on a young aesthete in late-19th-century England. Combining elements of the Gothic horror novel and decadent French fiction, the book centers on a striking premise: As Dorian Gray sinks into a life of crime and gross sensuality, his body retains perfect youth and vigor while his recently painted portrait grows day by day into a hideous record of evil, which he must keep hidden from the world. For over a century, this mesmerizing tale of horror and suspense has enjoyed wide popularity. It ranks as one of Wilde's most important creations and among the classic achievements of its kind. UPDATED REVIEW MY OPINION : ****** I would like to start out this review by stating that this is undoubtedly m...
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Antigone - Sophocles

Antigone by Sophocles
Genre: Classic

Image result for antigone bookBlurb (on back of book): The curse placed on Oedipus lingers and haunts a younger generation in this new and brilliant translation of Sophocles' classic drama. The daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, Antigone is an unconventional heroine who pits her beliefs against the King of Thebes in a bloody test of wills that leaves few unharmed. Emotions fly as she challenges the king for the right to bury her own brother. Determined but doomed, Antigone shows her inner strength throughout the play.
Antigone raises issues of law and morality that are just as relevant today as they were more than two thousand years ago. Whether this is your first reading or your twentieth, Antigone will move you as few pieces of literature can.
To make this quintessential Greek drama more accessible to the modern reader, this Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Edition includes a glossary of difficult terms, a list of vocabulary words, and convenient sidebar notes. By providing these, it is our intention that readers will more fully enjoy the beauty, wisdom, and intent of the play.

MY OPINION: ****

I read this play in English class, and I actually enjoyed it quite a bit more than I expected. It is the third book in the Theban Plays, and we didn't read the previous ones, but it made sense once my teacher gave us a bit of background info.

It was a really short play. I'm sure it's longer when it's actually being performed on stage but I'm used to the Shakespeare epics that we read in English (we're going to be reading one in a couple of weeks).

I loved the writing. There were significantly-well-written passages that I honestly loved. Some of the metaphors were so artfully-hidden throughout the play that I often found myself on the hunt for once of them.

The ending was really depressing, but obviously it's a tragedy so I wasn't expecting a happily ever after. I really felt for Haemon as he clung to the dress, and I almost felt bad for Creon by the end. Even though he was a complete and utter misogynist.

I would read this again and am considering the other two plays. I know I'll read it for English in a couple of years, but I might just start now while I'm at it.

I would recommend this play to readers looking for a short, dramatic, ironic tragedy.

Main Character: Antigone
Sidekick(s): Ismene, Haemon, gods, etc
Villain(s): Creon, etc
Classic Elements: This book was written a LOOONG time ago and uses very classical language.

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