Homoeroticism in the Picture of Dorian Gray
Kailie Kipfmiller
Charley
ENG 210
Essay 2
16 November 2012
"I believe that if one man were to live out his life fully and completely, were to give form to every feeling, expression to every thought, reality to every dream -- I believe that the world would gain such a fresh impulse of joy that we would forget all the malady of medievalism, and return to the Hellenic ideal -- to something finer, richer than the Hellenic ideal, it may be. But the bravest man amongst us is afraid of himself” (20-21).
Hellenism and Homoerotic Relationship in The Picture of Dorian Gray Ancient Greek culture has become deeply rooted and entwined with modern literature; themes, motifs, symbols, and a variety of literary devices are borrowed from its classical customs. The Picture of Dorian Gray, despite being written during the 19th century, frequently references Greek customs such as mythology and the worth of beauty and youth. The protagonist, Dorian Gray, is idolized by two men who portray the young man as a Greek godlike figure, enticed by his picture-perfect looks and naive personality. Lord Henry, a man who thrives off scandal, succeeds to corrupt Dorian’s innocence while Basil, an artist who love for the boy is pure, stands by helplessly. While both men develop intimate relationships with Dorian, the bond between boy and Lord Henry is instantaneous and ablaze with excitement. Homosexual tendencies are prevalent throughout the novel; however, never directly addressed because same sex relations were considered vulgar and socially unacceptable in the 19th century. Throughout his novel, Lord Henry criticizes the current culture’s lack of acceptance and glorifies the ancient Greek Hellenistic culture, where homoeroticism was socially accepted, common, and frequently occurred often between adolescent boys and older men. In Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, the allusion of Hellenism- in reference to the peculiar fixation Lord Henry exhibits, along with his intense opinions
Charley
ENG 210
Essay 2
16 November 2012
"I believe that if one man were to live out his life fully and completely, were to give form to every feeling, expression to every thought, reality to every dream -- I believe that the world would gain such a fresh impulse of joy that we would forget all the malady of medievalism, and return to the Hellenic ideal -- to something finer, richer than the Hellenic ideal, it may be. But the bravest man amongst us is afraid of himself” (20-21).
Hellenism and Homoerotic Relationship in The Picture of Dorian Gray Ancient Greek culture has become deeply rooted and entwined with modern literature; themes, motifs, symbols, and a variety of literary devices are borrowed from its classical customs. The Picture of Dorian Gray, despite being written during the 19th century, frequently references Greek customs such as mythology and the worth of beauty and youth. The protagonist, Dorian Gray, is idolized by two men who portray the young man as a Greek godlike figure, enticed by his picture-perfect looks and naive personality. Lord Henry, a man who thrives off scandal, succeeds to corrupt Dorian’s innocence while Basil, an artist who love for the boy is pure, stands by helplessly. While both men develop intimate relationships with Dorian, the bond between boy and Lord Henry is instantaneous and ablaze with excitement. Homosexual tendencies are prevalent throughout the novel; however, never directly addressed because same sex relations were considered vulgar and socially unacceptable in the 19th century. Throughout his novel, Lord Henry criticizes the current culture’s lack of acceptance and glorifies the ancient Greek Hellenistic culture, where homoeroticism was socially accepted, common, and frequently occurred often between adolescent boys and older men. In Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, the allusion of Hellenism- in reference to the peculiar fixation Lord Henry exhibits, along with his intense opinions
Cited: Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. United States: Modern Library, 2004. Print