Mar 09, · The Portrait of Dorian Gray "The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my soul" (Wilde, , p.2). This is the central symbol throughout the novel, suitable for closer analysis. The portrait is a reflection of Dorian Gray or put, Dorian Gray is the reflection of the portrait This work "Homoeroticism and sexual oppression in the ‘picture of dorian gray’ essay sample" was written and submitted voluntarily by your fellow student. You can use this sample for research and reference purposes to help create your own paper The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay: the Life of Secrecy. In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, secrecy greatly affected Dorian Gray and the weakness his mind had caused a tragic downfall. Dorian Gray was an innocent, beautiful, handsome young man who sold his soul for eternal youth and beauty
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Moran The Victorian era marks the illustrious age of English literature which highlights corruption and imagery in society. Oscar Wilde, an Irish novelist and one of the most profound authors known today, lived and worked under the Victorian context with strict anti-homosexual conventions. In the novel, there are various homosexual elements that can be found in the characters especially in ramifying the relationships between the male lead characters. At the core of the novel is the portrait of Dorian Gray, described as an extremely handsome young man, which traditionally is not openly or enthusiastically described by another man. In modern convention, women are the standards of beauty, not men. Hence, the fact that the picture of Dorian Gray or Dorian Gray himself becomes an object of affection by another man is a manifestation of homoeroticism.
However, where there are obvious themes of homoeroticism that can be inferred from the novel, these homoerotic relationships are not explicitly described or revealed by Wilde which reflected the sexual oppression that is extant during that time picture of dorian gray essay towards gays and homosexuals, which is a feature of the Victorian age. An artist Basil Hallward, painted a portrait of an exceptionally good looking young man named Dorian Gray. He wished that his portrait would grow old instead of him so that his real life beauty will not fade away in time. And it was granted by some gothic mysticism. Dorian went to about his life and whenever he transgresses; his portrait suffered the aging that was caused by the misery of his sins. Dorian never grew old but his portrait did.
He abandoned her fiancée, Sibyl Vane, a great beautiful actress, who has lost the talent to act after experiencing for the first time the rue feeling of love from Dorian. Dorian dumped and broke her heart simply because she lost her talent to act. Sibyl committed suicide by swallowing a poison before Dorian can reconcile with her. Out of guilt or rage, Dorian indulged himself with different vices and as he went on in his immorality spree, his portrait reflected the repugnance of his sins as it becomes ugly and horrible. Among the other vile adventures that Dorian did included: murdering Basil, hiding the crime with blackmailed help from Alan Campbell, staying in an opium den, among others.
Despite these, Dorian never grew old but his portrait bore the wretchedness, picture of dorian gray essay, grief and agony of his wickedness. In a last attempt to rectify his mistakes, picture of dorian gray essay, Dorian returned to London and tried to have a relationship with Hetty Merton, a beautiful daughter of a vicar. Despite this, the portrait remains horrible and even worse. Dorian began to lose his mind and confused if he is still capable of true and sincere love or he was merely acting out of mercy for himself or to save his own portrait. In a desperate attempt to see the truth and real about what is right and what is wrong, he decides to end the last remnant of his conscience by stabbing the portrait.
Homoeroticism pertains to the affection or passionate relationship between two people of similar sex such as a male to another picture of dorian gray essay or a female to another female. Greenberg, p Pederasty or sexual relations i. At the heart of novel is the Dorian Gray, picture of dorian gray essay, whose controversial story evolved from the intense admiration of two men, Basil and Lord Henry. While it is natural for men to admire men for their physical attributes, both Basil and Lord Henry took their admiration of Dorian Gray in a homoerotic level. He is absolutely necessary to me, picture of dorian gray essay. On the part of Lord Henry, his interest over Dorian Gray was so strong at the start upon seeing just the portrait painted by Basil, picture of dorian gray essay.
His conversations with Basil even touched about their true friendship just so that Basil will introduce him to Picture of dorian gray essay and he would be able to meet Dorian in person. Using his sweet yet keen tongue, Lord Henry displayed a desire to sway, win over and even manipulate Dorian, which can be tantamount to courting. This is also the point in the novel where Wilde impute innuendos that inverted the socially accepted arrangement of affections in a heterosexual set up and described the kind of romantic relationship that nobody dared to speak of — the love relationship between two men. The novel does so by stipulating mundane words of wisdom that challenged conventional marriage.
While both Basil and Lord Henry exhibits homoerotic feelings towards Dorian Gray, their conversations are not sexual but intellectually dogmatic in nature. This demonstrates that while men have erotic desires towards another man, their Victorian culture restricts them not to overtly act erotically towards another man or openly display their affection to them. The shame and disgrace that Basil refer to emanates from allegations of homosexual relationships with Dorian Gray which in a heterosexist Victorian society is not only a subject of ridicule but discrimination, loss of social status and spirituality.
Hence, homosexual relations are maintained as a secret. In one instance, Dorian threatened to divulge his secret relations with a friend as blackmail. He asked Allan Campbell for help in concealing his murder of Basil by destroying the body else he will reveal the secret between them through a letter, which he showed to Allan during their meeting. Considering the background and circumstances of Dorian, the letter suggests that Dorian and Allan had an illicit homosexual affair. Campbell had no choice but help Dorian destroy the body but he is not doing this to save Dorian but to save his face from the humiliation or dishonor if the secret between them is revealed. Wilde This shows the gravity of suppression in engaging in homosexual relationships that one is forced to become an accessory to picture of dorian gray essay or commit unlawful acts just so to conceal their sexual preferences and encounters.
Homosexuality and Homoeroticism have long been criticized especially in a Christian oriented Victorian society. More than the social disgrace that homosexuals are condemned to, such sexual preference is considered immoral and evil. According to the Bible, God only created a man and a woman. Homosexuals are created with the intervention of the devil. Still later, homosexuality was considered a psychiatric illness. This antigay sentiment during the Victorian age pertains to an ideological system that rejects, degrades and stereotypes behavior, sexual picture of dorian gray essay and relationship identified to homosexuals and bisexuals.
Herek, G. I found this helpful I found this helpful This is not helpful This is not helpful Thanks! Picture of dorian gray essay votes help us become better! You can use this sample for research and reference purposes to help create your own paper. The use of any parts of the work without proper citation is forbidden. We would like to know more: [email protected]. Essay, 7 pages 1, words. Download PDF DOCX. Subject: Others. Add to Library Added to Library Add to Library Remove. Published: April 16, Updated: April 16, Language: English Downloads: 3. Summary of the Novel An artist Basil Hallward, painted a portrait of an exceptionally good looking young man named Dorian Gray.
Homoeroticism and Sexual Oppression in the Picture of Dorian Gray Homoeroticism pertains to the affection or passionate relationship between two people of similar sex such as a male to another male or a female to another female. Conclusion Homosexuality and Homoeroticism have long been criticized especially in a Christian oriented Victorian society. Works Cited Greenberg, David F. The Construction of Homosexuality. University of Chicago Press, Herek, G. The context of anti-gay violence: Notes on cultural and psychological heterosexism. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 5 3: Victorian literature and culture.
Continuum International Publishing Group, Wilde, Oscar and Page, Norman. The picture of Dorian GrayBroadview Press, picture of dorian gray essay, Wilde, Oscar. The picture of Dorian Gray. I found this helpful I found this helpful This is not helpful This is not helpful. Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Reddit Share to LinkedIn. Request Removal. Cite this Essay Harvard APA-6 Chicago A-D Chicago N-B MLA-8 References NerdySeal, picture of dorian gray essay. Reference NerdySeal. References NerdySeal. Bibliography NerdySeal. Nelson mandela and leadership. Lets talk about dying. Symbolic violence and structural violence.
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THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY BY OSCAR WILDE // ANIMATED BOOK SUMMARY
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Victorian Gender Roles in the Picture of Dorian Gray Introduction Oscar Wilde’s only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, tells the story of the young and beautiful Dorian Gray, who is unmarked by age and excess. Meanwhile, his portrait, which Dorian hides from view, registers every detail of his debauched life This work "Homoeroticism and sexual oppression in the ‘picture of dorian gray’ essay sample" was written and submitted voluntarily by your fellow student. You can use this sample for research and reference purposes to help create your own paper The Picture of Dorian Gray essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes
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