THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY is one of my favorite novels. I’ve listened to different Audible book recordings, relishing how the narrator performs Wilde’s withering lines. I’ve never been satisfied with any film adaptations and one major reason is how Sybil Vane is treated. Dorian Gray having no interest in Vane as a real person but only as an artistic ideal fits very well with the homoerotic themes. It also provides an interesting contrast to Lord Henry’s comments: "“But do let us go. Dorian, you must not stay here any longer. It is not good for one’s morals to see bad acting. (I LOVE THIS LINE AND HAVE STOLEN IT OFTEN) Besides, I don’t suppose you will want your wife to act, so what does it matter if she plays Juliet like a wooden doll? She is very lovely, and if she knows as little about life as she does about acting, she will be a delightful experience.”
Lord Henry is a misogynist but his view of Vane is more heteronormative than Dorian, who says that he would’ve given Sybill his name and made her a great actress. He simply wants to “own” her as a living work of art.
Interesting! We have the painting from the 45 film here in the Art Institute of Chicago and it is a favorite, but I never knew the distinction from the story before. Thanks for sharing! I am very unread in Oscar Wilde, only know him from references in Starman and a few films.
(Coincidentally, I read your issues of Shade, The Changing Man for the first time last night. Really enjoyed your work on the book. It was a nice surprise because I had thought the run was almost entirely Bachalo/Phillips.)
"The director of the 2009 film said the central theme of the work is, "What if you were allowed to do anything?" Which is not the central theme of the book"
Oy vey. I honestly don't see how anyone could read the whole book and think that! A lot of people seem to stop short after the infamous preface.
It makes me wonder if the changes to the character was made because society as whole doesn't value women for anything more than their perceived physical "virtue". The story requires the reader to imagine a woman being desired for her ARTISTIC TALENT and sacrificing it to her peril for a man, but society at large scoffs at the idea of a talented woman and would have never understood the subtext anyway. Reminds me of how LOLITA keeps getting horrible adaptations completely misrepresenting Dolores that miss the entire point of the book.
I love this novel, and I love this analysis of Sybil Vane's role in it. I've long been frustrated by her depiction in pop-culture. In an abandoned comic book I was writing for Dark Horse, I tried to honor her better. I wish it had been published, if only to set the record a bit more straight. Thanks for writing this!
It's been years since I read the story, and I don't think I've actually watched any of the film adaptations. But I love your analysis of it, and it provoked an idea of a possible connection to another writer I have frequently re-read: Dorothy L. Sayers. In particular, her novel Gaudy Night. Because the main character in that story (and Lord Peter Wimsey's true love) is named Harriet VANE. Harriet is a writer, particularly of detective novels. But in the three Wimsey novels she appears in, a core feature of her personality is her commitment of staying true to herself and her "art." In Gaudy Night there are a number of discussions where the issue of sticking truly and honestly to one's calling is central.
Reading your analysis makes me wonder if, in giving Harriet the same surname as Sybil, Sayers was not giving a nod to the subtext in Wilde's story. I'd have to do a deal of research (or ask a Sayers expert) if it might not be the case that Sybil Vane is indeed a genuine influence on the character of Harriet.
Fascinating stuff. And thanks for a great article!
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY is one of my favorite novels. I’ve listened to different Audible book recordings, relishing how the narrator performs Wilde’s withering lines. I’ve never been satisfied with any film adaptations and one major reason is how Sybil Vane is treated. Dorian Gray having no interest in Vane as a real person but only as an artistic ideal fits very well with the homoerotic themes. It also provides an interesting contrast to Lord Henry’s comments: "“But do let us go. Dorian, you must not stay here any longer. It is not good for one’s morals to see bad acting. (I LOVE THIS LINE AND HAVE STOLEN IT OFTEN) Besides, I don’t suppose you will want your wife to act, so what does it matter if she plays Juliet like a wooden doll? She is very lovely, and if she knows as little about life as she does about acting, she will be a delightful experience.”
Lord Henry is a misogynist but his view of Vane is more heteronormative than Dorian, who says that he would’ve given Sybill his name and made her a great actress. He simply wants to “own” her as a living work of art.
Interesting! We have the painting from the 45 film here in the Art Institute of Chicago and it is a favorite, but I never knew the distinction from the story before. Thanks for sharing! I am very unread in Oscar Wilde, only know him from references in Starman and a few films.
(Coincidentally, I read your issues of Shade, The Changing Man for the first time last night. Really enjoyed your work on the book. It was a nice surprise because I had thought the run was almost entirely Bachalo/Phillips.)
Yes, I went to Chicago in June 2004 for my birthday and headed straight to the Art Institute to see the painting from the film. It’s glorioius.
I wonder if Sybil was treated differently in any comic book adaptions? Hmmm Vane, a play of words with vain? Like Bruce Vane? :-D
I never had the urge to read the book before (I haven´t seen the films either) but after your article I am compelled to read it. Thanks :)
Now that really makes me happy.
"The director of the 2009 film said the central theme of the work is, "What if you were allowed to do anything?" Which is not the central theme of the book"
Oy vey. I honestly don't see how anyone could read the whole book and think that! A lot of people seem to stop short after the infamous preface.
It makes me wonder if the changes to the character was made because society as whole doesn't value women for anything more than their perceived physical "virtue". The story requires the reader to imagine a woman being desired for her ARTISTIC TALENT and sacrificing it to her peril for a man, but society at large scoffs at the idea of a talented woman and would have never understood the subtext anyway. Reminds me of how LOLITA keeps getting horrible adaptations completely misrepresenting Dolores that miss the entire point of the book.
I love this novel, and I love this analysis of Sybil Vane's role in it. I've long been frustrated by her depiction in pop-culture. In an abandoned comic book I was writing for Dark Horse, I tried to honor her better. I wish it had been published, if only to set the record a bit more straight. Thanks for writing this!
It's been years since I read the story, and I don't think I've actually watched any of the film adaptations. But I love your analysis of it, and it provoked an idea of a possible connection to another writer I have frequently re-read: Dorothy L. Sayers. In particular, her novel Gaudy Night. Because the main character in that story (and Lord Peter Wimsey's true love) is named Harriet VANE. Harriet is a writer, particularly of detective novels. But in the three Wimsey novels she appears in, a core feature of her personality is her commitment of staying true to herself and her "art." In Gaudy Night there are a number of discussions where the issue of sticking truly and honestly to one's calling is central.
Reading your analysis makes me wonder if, in giving Harriet the same surname as Sybil, Sayers was not giving a nod to the subtext in Wilde's story. I'd have to do a deal of research (or ask a Sayers expert) if it might not be the case that Sybil Vane is indeed a genuine influence on the character of Harriet.
Fascinating stuff. And thanks for a great article!