The Picture of Dorian Gray
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What did he tell Alan Campbell?
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Jason
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Jan 13, 2009 11:16PM

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Reading the book in its historical context, you can imagine why Campbell would have reacted the way he did. Homosexuality was a crime punishable by law. A scandal like this could have thrown a man like Campbell in prison; he would've also faced social and financial ruin.


I'm inclined to agree.

What a fantastic analysis! I never figured the secret out while I was reading and I just chalked it up to something heaps scandolous. But by this argument I'm very inclined to believe it was homosexuality indeed. Well done!

Yes I must say this looks a plausible conclusion...I second that...!!


I often wonder if the monstrosity of the painting in some way represents Dorian's guilt for crimes that he did not commit.

While Dorian didn't actually commit any of those crimes you listed, he was the catalyst for all of them.
Basil and Dorian both wanted to have his portrait done, he was absolutely cruel to Sybil, Sybil's brother was chasing him for breaking Sybil's heart and I have no doubt that he didn't exactly fend off the admiring women.
Dorian brought out the worst in people and he left spoilt reputations in his wake without any remorse. The blood on his hands represented Sybil and her brother's deaths but Dorian himself spent a while questioning whether he actually killed either of them. Sybil wouldn't have done it without Dorian and her brother wouldn't have been there without him either.
It's debatable and I do like the point you brought up but I certainly believe that Dorian was punishable not exactly for the crimes he didn't commit but for being the cause of all the ruined lives.

Also, while I think that Scully17's suggestion has merit, I think another book is useful here. Like 1984's room 101, whatever was written down was the WORST thing in the world. The shame and horror on that paper is fresh and offensive in any time that the reader picks up the book.
If Mr. Wilde had written "you are a secret homosexual" it wouldn't have anywhere near the bite today it might have had then. By leaving it blank it becomes room 101... the epitome of undeniable blackmail in the reader's mind per their own time and context.

Also, while I think that Scully17's suggestion has merit, I think another book is useful ..."
Agreed, agreed, agreed.


For those of you who found this analysis to be a surprise, you may want to re-think the rest of the book taking into account when it was written and who wrote it. One of the reasons Wilde's literature can be so intriguing is, in fact, the nature of his own life and how he lived it.

nice... i like that idea heaps better than the whole homoerotocism we were taught when we studied it. we all just assumed he was gay. but i think thats a much better interpretation and so much more Wilde-ish

I think this is a really good point, and that this is something that the novel definitely achieves, but I think, realistically, there's a high probability that Wilde took this route because actually writing about homosexuality would have been illegal--or at least aroused suspicion.

Excellent point of view. I ask myself the same question, but now that I've read your argument I strongly agree, since part of this book its a reflection of Oscar Wilde life style


Dorian's vices are not described but presumably if they had been he would never have got it published. The indirect references make his behaviour seem all the more sinister - whether intentionally or not.
And the mystery surrounding his blackmail of Campbell - it seemed more as if DG was threatening to expose him for one particular action rather than just being gay. But we will never know what that thing was.
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