Although Dorian has clearly been touched (figuratively) by Lord Henry, he immediately "falls in love" with the young actress he sees during a stage performance of a Shakespeare play. It seems to the reader that Wilde intentionally makes Dorian's feelings for Sibyl unrealistic and not true to Dorian's character by having Dorian come from nowhere with news that he is engaged to Sibyl, and then a few days later growing to detest her. While it is true that Dorian is capable of having strong and quickly picked up emotions towards people, it does not seem realistic that he would suddenly declare he wants to marry Sibyl unless perhaps he was trying to repress other feelings he was experiencing. In this way, critic Sedgwick's theory of "homophobic male panic" is also developed in the Picture of Dorian Gray.
Overall, the feelings of tragically repressed homosexuality in the Picture of Dorian Gray…...
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Bibliography
Sedgwick, Eve Kosofsky. Between Men: English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire. New York: Columbia University Press, 1985. Print.
Sedwick, Eve Kosofsky. "The Beast in the Closet: James and the Writing of Homosexual Panic," Sex, Politics, and Science in the Nineteent-Century Novel: Selected Papers from the English Institute, 1983-84, ed. Ruth Bernard Yeazell. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1986. 148-86. Print.
Dellamora, Richard. "Representation and Homophobia in the Picture of Dorian Gray," the Victorian Newsletter, Vol. 73, Spring 1988. 28-31. Print.
Oscar ilde's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, provides a series of profound social criticism of his time in the form of witty epigrams. These epigrams made pointed social observations about life at the time of ilde's novel. Nonetheless, they can sill be applied to societies' customs and attitudes today.
Perhaps one of the most famous epigrams in The Picture of Dorian Gray comes from Lord Henry otton, who notes "I choose my friends for their beauty and my enemies for their intelligence. A man cannot be too careful in choosing his enemies." Here, this is a reversal of common logic at the time that held that friends should be chosen for their intelligence and companionship, while it would seem logical that one would not want intelligence in enemies. Today, the epigram is equally valid, as we still consider intelligence and companionship important qualities in a friend.
Another Lord otton epigram is,…...
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Works Cited
Wilde, Oscar. 1998. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Modern Library.
Is this 'good' or natural one might ask, if Basil is one of the moral characters of the book and defying nature and wishing for eternal youth is immoral? Henry's counsel to Dorian that Dorian yield to his every natural temptation and not bow down to societal morality could be seen as an endorsement of the natural, but Henry also celebrates youth to an unnatural, unchanging degree and he too falls in love with Dorian's image before Dorian. Also, Henry, like Basil, is clearly amoral and self-interested himself, as seen in his disapproval that Dorian's impulses do not conform to Henry's own when Dorian is attracted to a pretty young actress.
Henry is a tempting figure, like Mephistopheles, but Dorian easily outdoes him in 'evil' or transgressions and unnaturalness. Dorian's love of youth, spawned by Henry, takes on a life of its own, just like Faustus' taunting of nature and…...
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Works Cited
Clausson, Nils. "Culture and Corruption": Paterian Self-Development vs. Gothic
He has tried to live a life of pure pleasure with no concern for others, but he cannot escape his own fear, because he knows all the wrongs he has done. The ultimate sin was killing the only person who ever saw true beauty in him.
For its time, this book was extremely well done, and the writing cannot be faulted in the light of Victorian English literature. The story, in fact, is still a good tale, but the long passages of exposition, even in the guise of conversation, makes it difficult for today's audience to read. It is so full of discussions of philosophy and morality that I have to suspect that it was intentionally done to point out the excessive moralizing in much Victorian literature. Nearly every rule of political correctness is broken by one or more of the characters. Yet the story underlying the whole is compelling.…...
Bibliographical Criticism on The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar ildeIn Oscar ildes Dorian Gray, the title character leads a secretive narcissistic and hedonistic life that gives his soul a hideous character while his exterior remains pristine and charming. Like his character, Oscar ilde himself led a charming and charmed lifebut his trial for homosexual acts ended with a conviction and prison sentence. In prison he was forced to confront his own conscience, which he did and depicted in De Profundis (Pearce) ilde already had a sense of morality, having flirted with a conversion to Catholicism throughout his youtha rarity in Protestant England (Pearce). Yet, he also enjoyed the hedonistic lifestyle and was torn between morality and licentiousness. For ilde, Dorian represented his own reality; a creature torn between two worldsone of the spirit, the other of the senses.It is noted midway through Dorian Gray that Dorianlike ildehad once had…...
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Works CitedMalik, Shushma. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"All Roads Lead to Rome?: Decadence, Paganism, Catholicism and the Later Life of Oscar Wilde.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Cahiers victoriens et édouardiens 80 Automne (2014). Joseph. The Unmasking of Oscar Wilde. Harper Collins, 2000.Taylor, Aaron. “Oscar Wilde’s Long Journey to Catholicism.” Catholic Herald, 2018. https://catholicherald.co.uk/oscar-wildes-long-journey-to-catholicism/ Wilde, Oscar. “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Https://www.gutenberg.org/files/174/174-h/174-h.htmhttps://journals.openedition.org/cve/1456 Pearce,
This literary parallel also underlined in the final description of the portrait of what Dorian Gray has become at the end of the book, Chapter 20: "The thing was still loathsome -- more loathsome, if possible, than before -- and the scarlet dew that spotted the hand seemed brighter, and more like blood newly spilled. Then he trembled. Had it been merely vanity that had made him do his one good deed? Or the desire for a new sensation, as Lord Henry had hinted, with his mocking laugh?"
Again, there is scarlet, but this is the scarlet of blood letting, not an innocent blush of the young Dorian's lips. Once again, at the words of Lord Henry, even the older and more jaded Dorian is moved to tremble. He blanches at the sight of the picture, but for a different reason, because he can see the monster he has become,…...
Queer Theory and Oscar Wilde
Analysis of "Queer Theory" by Annamarie Jagose in relation to Dorian Gray's character in "The picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde
In her discussion of "Queer theory," author Annamarie Jagose provides a distinction between the concepts 'queer' and the dichotomous relationship between 'lesbian' and 'gay.' Jagose argued in her discussion of this theory that queer was a concept that had politically evolved through the years in relation to the proliferation of gay and lesbian studies.
What makes the queer concept vital to the study of gays and lesbians, as well as issues of homosexuality and heterosexuality is that it provides a 'gray area' in which no distinctions between male and female and gay and lesbian are found. Queer appeals to the 20th century philosophers and social scientists simply because it offers an avenue through which gender and sex can be discussed without the political inequality often found…...
Essay Topic Examples
1. The Influence of Aestheticism on Modern Design:
Explore the lasting impact of the aesthetic movement on contemporary design practices, evaluating how its principles of beauty and art for art's sake has permeated into the realms of architecture, fashion, and digital design.
2. Aestheticism in Literature: Analysis of Oscar Wildes Works:
Delve into the works of Oscar Wilde, often hailed as a leading figure in the aesthetic movement, and dissect how his writings reflect the ethos of aestheticism, with an emphasis on examining texts like "The icture of Dorian Gray" and "The Importance of Being Earnest."
3. The Role of Aestheticism in Challenging Victorian Morality:
Discuss how the aesthetic movement, with its emphasis on beauty and sensory experiences, presented a counter-narrative to the moral and industrial rigidity of the Victorian era, highlighting the societal and cultural implications.
4. Aestheticism and the Arts and Crafts Movement: A Comparative Study:
Compare the aesthetic…...
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Primary Sources
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Lippincott\'s Monthly Magazine, 1890.
Pater, Walter. The Renaissance: Studies in Art and Poetry. Macmillan and Co., 1873.Ruskin, John. Modern Painters, Volume I. Smith, Elder, and Co., 1843.Swinburne, Algernon Charles. Lesbia Brandon. Unpublished Manuscript, completed in 1868, posthumously published, 1952.Huysmans, Joris-Karl. Against Nature (À rebours). Translated by Robert Baldick, Penguin Books, 1959.
Essay Topic Examples
1. The Rise and Development of Aestheticism in Victorian England:
Explore the historical context of aestheticism, focusing on its origins during the Victorian era. Examine the movement's reaction to the industrial revolution and prevailing moralistic attitudes of the time. Analyze key figures, such as Oscar Wilde and Walter ater, and their contribution to the doctrine of 'art for art's sake'.
2. Aestheticism and its Influence on Modern Design:
Discuss how the principles of aestheticism have permeated contemporary design practices. Consider the importance of beauty and sensory experience in modern architecture, industrial design, and digital interfaces. Evaluate whether the aesthetic movement has effectively challenged or been integrated into functionalism in design.
3. The Ethical Implications of Aestheticism:
Investigate the potential conflict between aestheticism and ethical considerations. Debate whether art should be divorced from morality, citing arguments from both historical proponents of the aesthetic movement and modern critics. Delve into controversial artworks…...
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Primary Sources
Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Lippincott\'s Monthly Magazine, 1890.
Pater, Walter. The Renaissance: Studies in Art and Poetry. Macmillan, 1873.Ruskin, John. Modern Painters, Volume I. Smith, Elder, and Co., 1843.Whistler, James McNeill. Ten O\'Clock Lecture. Boston: John Wilson and Son, 1885.Symonds, John Addington. Studies of the Greek Poets. Smith, Elder, & Co., 1873.
role of religion in the history of European society is a tumultuous one. Christianity, from its obscure beginnings in the classical age, eventually took the reins as the centerpiece of philosophical, literary, and scientific thought. It is true that religion, often, tends to justify actions that might objectively be perceived as incongruous to the established faith. It has historically been the case that when traditional forms of worship become threatened, morally questionable methods are undertaken to strengthen the order. This is certainly the case with Christianity. Since the birth of the Catholic Church in the Roman Empire, Church officials have actively attempted to make their privileged positions in society impervious to assault -- this process has progressed for centuries and, indeed, tens of centuries. For many years this single faith dominated nearly every aspect of European society and was a strong force in maintaining the status quo. However, the…...
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Works Cited:
1. Haney, David P. "Christianity and Literature." Malibu, Winter Vol. 54, Iss. 2, 2005.
2. Mill, John Stuart. "Utilitarianism." Reason and Responsibility. New York: Wadsworth Publishing, 1999. Pages 571-77.
3. Shelley, Mary. "Frankenstein." The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Seventh Edition, Volume 2. New York W.W. Norton and Company, 2000. Pages 905-1033.
4. Wilde, Oscar. Literary Criticism of Oscar Wilde. Lincoln: Bison Books, 1968. Page, 233.
homosexual practices might have begun in the early centuries, the word "sodomy" was first used by a Catholic missionary, now a saint, Father Peter Damien around 1050. y sodomy, he meant masturbation and anal intercourse between men, a sin he condemned as the most perverse of sexual sins in his long letter to the Pope, entitled "the ook of Gomorrah." He emphasized that God designed sex exclusively for procreation and that the enjoyment of the sexual act outside this divine purpose was unnatural and therefore summarily grievously and wickedly sinful.
The unnaturalness of sodomy remained more or less the same through the centuries, till the 1700s when the so-called modern homosexual subcultures made themselves visible in London, Paris and Amsterdam. The rest soon perceived them as "sodomites (who were merely) ... constitutionally different from other men" (Wikholm 1999) and effeminate woman-haters who refused to have sex with women. Things were…...
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Alic, Margaret. Alfred Charles Kinsey. Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, second edition. Gale Group, 2001
It was also during this time that he started keeping a diary. The entry for that day is very relevant as to our attempt to understand what drove Orton to join the theater in hopes of an acting career. During the time he spent with the amateur theater company, Orton decided that he wanted to pursue a career in acting, and that his first step towards achieving this goal was to go to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art: "Last night sitting in the empty theatre watching the electricians flashing lights on and off, the empty stage waiting for rehearsal to begin, I suddenly knew that my ambition is, and always has been, to act." (Diary entry, April 13th, 1949: Joe Orton Online)
He quit the amateur acting company after his first role because he was not offered any other substantial roles. Although he got accepted into the Royal Academy…...
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Woodcock, George. The Paradox of Oscar Wilde. New York: Macmillan, 1950.
" (4) it is unclear how to understand "things are because we see them." Traditionally perception is conceived as a passive process: we open our eyes and receive input from the world. Kant suggests that perhaps it is not so passive: we "organize" the world into temporal and spatial dimensions, attribute cause and effect, etc. But what Wilde suggests here is even more radical. The "things are because" suggests a causal relationship, such that what we see exists as an effect of seeing. It would be as if looking "paints" the world. But this is completely absurd. Onto what would seeing "paint" the world? and, even weirder, notice that it wouldn't be that seeing paints the world so that we could then look at what was painted. Rather, it would be that seeing is painting, so that we always see and paint simultaneously, always just "creating" whatever we see, under…...
Visual Imagery and Qualitative Dimensions of Life & Consciousness in Visual Art
Throughout history all cultures have produced works of art. The impulse to create as a means of personal expression and to stimulate the imagination of viewers is universal and perpetual. In their various manifestations, the arts play an important role in defining culture by presenting intelligent viewpoints of our present state of being, and by serving as a record of our past. The visual arts are a repository of those qualitative dimensions of life, which enhance our consciousness through the use of visual imagery.
The most exquisite expression of the self is through art, be it literature, history theatre, painting, sculptor and so on. From the wondrous Egyptian pyramids to the majestic statue of liberty, from eloquent Greek writer Homer - who produced masterpieces like the Odyssey - to 20th century literati like Palestinian journalist Edward Said - who so…...
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Works Cited
1) A short history of English literature: Pages124 & 125. Sylvan Barnet
2) History of English literature: Pages123 & 127. Legouis & Cazamain
3) An Introduction to Fiction, Drama and Poetry: Pages 355 to 361. Kennedy Gioia
Law Enforcement Opinion
This report will cover a topic that has always been controversial. However, there have been some events as of late, most of them racially and otherwise socially charged, that have forced the argument the subject firmly back into the forefront. Of course, that topic would be law enforcement. While gun violence, politics and so forth are all the rage in the modern blogosphere and social media realms, the topic of law enforcement is high on the minds of many regular people and activists due to, among other things, the events and details surrounding what happened to people like Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, Michael Brown and so forth. There are plenty of talking heads that would paint the police as abusive and authoritarians. However, that is far from being the true picture that should be painted and this report shall aim to fill in the rest of the context.…...
Literature has long been a medium through which the experiences of LGBT members in society have been portrayed. From classic works to modern literature, the depiction of LGBT characters and their struggles has evolved over time. In this literature review, we will explore how various authors have represented the experiences of LGBT individuals in society.
One of the earliest and most famous portrayals of LGBT characters in literature can be found in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray. Published in 1890, this novel tells the story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty.....
The Power of Love and Redemption in William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" The Complexity of Heroism in Homer's "The Iliad" The Role of Fate and Free Will in Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" The Nature of Madness in Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" The Search for Meaning in Albert Camus' "The Stranger"
Analyzing Literary Characters and Perspectives:
Hamlet's Tragic Flaw and its Consequences The Evolution of Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" The Unreliable Narrator in J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" The Relationship between Dorian Gray and Lord Henry Wotton in Oscar....
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