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Word Count: 381
In the novel The Picture of Dorian Grey homosexuality is an important aspect of the novel and the bookdeserves credit as a pioneering depection of homosexual relationships in serious English fiction The depectionof homosexualtity in the book is undoubtedly shaped by Wildes personal ambivalences toward his ownsexuality which is found expressed both in idealized love affairs and in liaisions with prostitutes It is importantto stress that the novels primary intrest is literaty rather than biographical and that Wilde hints at homosexualityrather than expresses it directly Homosexual readers would certainly have responded to the books undercurrent of gay feeling and may have found the very name Dorian suggestive of Greek homosexuality since itwas the Dorian tribesman who allegedly intorduced homosexuality into Greece as part of their military regimen Wilde purposely leaves the exact nature of the sins of Dorian Grey mysterious and vague suggested but notWildes attitude toward homosexuality in the novel may best be seen in his portrayal of Basil Hallward Hallward is the character mast clearly defined as homosexual and it is significant that he is presented as themost morally sensitive character as well His love for Dorian seems altogther noble especially in contrast to theblandishments of Lord Henry his rival for the young mans affection In the triangle formed by the competitionof the two older men for the attention of the beautiful boy Basil represents an idealized platonizedhomosexuality linked to a long tradidtion of art and philosophy Wilde conceives of Basils homosexual lovefor Dorian as something positive but dangerous an emotion that inspires guilt and fear measures respetivelyof the internal and external condemnations brought to bear against homosexuality In the end it seems that it is Basil homosexual love for Dorian that ultimately leads to the destruction ofhimself He comes to Dorian to confront him about roumors of his curroption and pleading with him to denythe charges He is then taken to the picture and in horror he begs Dorian to pray
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