Oscar Wilde. The homosexual genius

Term Paper , 2013 , 13 Pages , Grade: 2,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit Anzeichen von Oscar Wilde´s Homosexualität in seinem Werk "The Picture of Doran Grey". Zudem wird ein Überblick über sein Leben und seinen Umgang mit seiner Homosexualität gegeben.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction
• 2. The Victorian Age
  • 2.1. General Information
  • 2.2. Sexuality in the Victorian Age
• 3. The Gay Wilde
  • 3.1. Oscar Wilde's Life
  • 3.2. Oscar Wilde's Sexuality and Love Life
  • 3.3. The Trials
• 4. The Picture of Dorian Grey and the Homosexuality of Oscar Wilde
  • 4.1. Overview: The Picture of Dorian Grey
  • 4.2. Homosexuality in the Picture of Dorian Grey
• 5. Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to explore the life and work of Oscar Wilde, focusing on his homosexuality in the context of the Victorian Age. It examines how his exaggerated lifestyle, which broke Victorian taboos, particularly his homosexual relationships, influenced his writing.

• The Victorian Age and its social and cultural values, especially regarding sexuality and homosexuality.
• Oscar Wilde's life, focusing on his biography and love life.
• The consequences of Wilde's homosexual relationships, including his trials and imprisonment.
• The portrayal of homosexuality in Wilde's novel, *The Picture of Dorian Grey*.
• The relationship between Wilde's homosexuality and his writing, particularly in *The Picture of Dorian Grey*.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction sets the stage by providing a contextualization of Oscar Wilde's life and works within the Victorian Age. It highlights the societal constraints and taboos surrounding sexuality, particularly homosexuality, and how these influenced Wilde's experiences. Chapter two explores the Victorian Age in greater detail, focusing on its general characteristics, including the Industrial Revolution and its impact on society. It then delves into the social and cultural attitudes towards sexuality, highlighting the prevailing Victorian moral values that suppressed and condemned homosexuality. Chapter three centers on Oscar Wilde himself. It provides a brief biography, exploring his life and upbringing, and then moves on to discuss his sexuality and love life. The chapter concludes by exploring the consequences of his relationships with young men, including the trials and imprisonment he faced. Chapter four examines Wilde's novel, *The Picture of Dorian Grey*, focusing on its plot and main characters. It analyzes how Wilde's own experiences and views on homosexuality are reflected in the novel, particularly in the portrayal of the main character, Dorian Grey.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper explores key concepts such as the Victorian Age, homosexuality, Oscar Wilde, *The Picture of Dorian Grey*, social norms, sexuality, and societal constraints. The focus is on understanding the relationship between Wilde's personal experiences with homosexuality and his literary works, particularly the ways in which he addressed and challenged Victorian taboos.

• College: University of Bayreuth (Sprach-und Kulturwissenschaftliche Fakultät)
• Course: Oscar Wilde and the Victorians
• Grade: 2,3
• Author: Björn Böhringer (Author)
• Publication Year: 2013
• Pages: 13
• Catalog Number: V272612
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656642398
• ISBN (Book): 9783656642381
• Language: English
• Tags: Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorain Grey