Homosexual Elements in The Picture of Dorian Gray by...

Homosexual Elements in The Picture of Dorian Gray In spite of the novels heterosexual text, many critics agree that it has various homosexual elements in its characters, in the dialogues, and even in the portrait itself. One of the critics, Richard Dellamora, mentions this feature of the text, and comments that By definition this context is heterosexual. Wotton is married and pursues actresses. Basil himself is a graduate of Oxford, a well-established artist, and respectable to a fault (28). However, he also remarks the intensity of male friendships, and referring to Basil, he continues Later, he repeatedly enjoins Dorian to conformity. Both older men live in a network of male friendships that ramify through the novel †¦show more content†¦A curious sensation of terror came over me. I knew that I had come face to face with someone whose mere personality was so fascinating that, if I allowed it to do so, it would absorb my whole nature, my whole soul, my very art itself... Something seemed to tell me that I was on the verge of a terrible crisis in my life... I take no credit to myself for trying to escape... We were quite close, almost touching. Our eyes met again. It was reckless of me, but I asked Lady Brandon to introduce me to him. Perhaps it was not so reckless, after all. It was simply inevitable. We would have spoken to each other without any introduction. I am sure of that, Dorian told me so afterwards. He, too, felt that we were destined to know each other. (11-12) Towards the middle of the novel, Basil confesses his worship of Dorian to the young model himself : ...Dorian, from the moment I met you, your personality had the most extraordinary influence over me. I was dominated, soul, brain, and power by you. You became to me theShow MoreRelatedThe Picture Of Dorian Gray1564 Words   |  7 PagesTheories and Ideas in The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray was published in 1891. 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