Good Story Telling

Some books are great because of the way they are written, others because of the story they tell, Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is an excellent example of great story telling because the way it makes you stop and think of society’s views on some issues. Since the beginning of the book, there have been different passages that reflect the way people think about beauty and youth and what people will do to keep being young and keep their beauty.

“How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June... If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!" (Chapter 2)

This passage is one of the passages that I consider and excellent example of great example of a great story telling, because it shows how far a person would go to keep his/her youth. This passage shows what Dorian gray thinks of himself and how he thinks that the only way that he can live a happy life if he keeps his youth. These thought of always being beautiful and young start after Lord Henry tells him that his beauty and youth will allow him to live a life of pleasure. The vain Dorian becomes convinced immediately. Lord Henry sees the perfect opportunity to use Dorian’s insecurities to his own advantage, this showing how an insecure person can be taken advantage easily.