Oscar Wilde and Omar Khayyam

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Oscar Wilde and Omar Khayyam
by Darius Kadivar
19-Aug-2008
 

I sent my soul through the invisible,
Some letter of that after-life to spell;
And by and by my soul returned to me,
And answered, `I myself an Heaven and Hell'"
- "The Rubaiyat" Omar Khayyam

The Picture of Dorian Gray, is the only published novel written by Oscar Wilde, first appearing as the lead story in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on June 20, 1890. Wilde later revised this edition, making several alterations, and adding new chapters; the amended version was published by Ward, Lock, and Company in April 1891.The story is often miscalled The Portrait of Dorian Gray.The novel tells of a young man named Dorian Gray, the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Basil is greatly impressed by Dorian's physical beauty and becomes strongly infatuated with him, believing that his beauty is responsible for a new mode in his art. Talking in Basil's garden, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, a friend of Basil's, and becomes enthralled by Lord Henry's world view. Espousing a new kind of hedonism, Lord Henry suggests that the only thing worth pursuing in life is beauty, and the fulfilment of the senses. Realising that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian cries out, wishing that the portrait Basil has painted of him would age rather than himself. Dorian's wish is fulfilled, subsequently plunging him into a series of debauched acts. The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with each sin being displayed as a disfigurement of his form, or through a sign of aging.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is considered one of the last works of classic gothic horror fiction with a strong Faustian theme. It deals with the artistic movement of the decadents, and homosexuality, both of which caused some controversy when the book was first published. However, in modern times, the book has been referred to as "one of the modern classics of Western literature."

 

A Classic Hollywood film adaptation was released in 1945 see below.

 

Film Reference on Imdb

Watch Video showing the Films Opening with Khayyam's Poem:

  

The 1945 Classic  Hollywood Movie is available on amazon.com starring George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Angela Landsbury, Peter Lawford and Dona Reed.

 

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more from Darius Kadivar
 
Souri

Thank you Dariush jan for this great post

by Souri on Wed Aug 20, 2008 06:21 PM PDT

i think I had read it long time ago on Payvand too.

I always follow you on that site ...

great job. thanks.


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bajenaghe naghi

darius jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:19 AM PDT

i enjoyed reading your 2003 article. it was chuck full of interesting information about omar khayam himself and all the films about him.


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bajenaghe naghi

darius jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:16 AM PDT

i enjoyed reading your 2003 article. it was chuck full of interesting information about omar khayam himself and all the films about him.


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Darius Kadivar

bajenaghe naghi & Souri

by Darius Kadivar on Wed Aug 20, 2008 03:04 AM PDT

Your Both most Welcome. Khayyam is also quoted in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman. A film Starring James Mason and the breathtakingly beautiful Ava Gardner.

Here is an old article I wrote about Khayyam in the Western Pop Culture. Print it out of you wish cause I am not sure if the site is still running. Hope you enjoy it.

Gaga for Khayyam by Darius KADIVAR (2003)


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Souri

Great movie

by Souri on Tue Aug 19, 2008 01:06 PM PDT

I watched it at TV, when I was very young (about 12 maybe) but I never forget it. It had a great influence on my young mind and also I must say that I discovered Oscar Wild from there.

Angela Landsbury (Murder she wrote) was very young and beautiful in that movie. It's a splendid work.

Thanks for sharing this with us.


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bajenaghe naghi

darius jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:16 PM PDT

i have read the book and seen the picture. great story. i have also met people who have become ugly in my eyes because of their dark and dirty dealings. 


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