The entries I have read questioned Oscar Wilde’s personal life and views on sexuality and art.  Two entries mentioned that due to its homosexual undertones, the book was considered scandalous and Wilde was even brought to trial for it.  As one entry further elaborates, the romance between Dorian and Basil sparked questions about Wilde’s own romantic history.  Various rumors came about of his past, just like rumors arose about Dorian, and the source of his sexual orientation was disputed, with some saying even that it was due to reading Greek literature.  Due to Dorian Gray and Wilde’s later being thrown in jail over his apparent homosexual tendencies, Wilde became a hero to the LGBT community.

The third entry focused more on Wilde’s belief in aestheticism, or appreciation of the physical beauty of art.  Unlike the previous issue, he was not unique to this belief, as focusing on the appearance of art solely was a common mode of thought at the time.  This is very interesting as it mimics what Jane Eyre’s paintings show about her character, though her work does so through more complex symbolism at times and in Dorian Gray, it is asserted the painting shows something about the subject only, not the artist.

Reading these entries has caused me to recognize other differences to the novels we have read, in particular Jekyll and Hyde.  As I comment, Jekyll and Hyde has homosexual undertones as well but associates them with evil rather than good, as Wilde did.  Additionally, Dorian’s contrast between good and evil is less stark, as evil is not seen as a separate entity lurking within, but as another part of one soul that simply is easier to see the more evil we do.  I wonder, then, what was Wilde’s history with Gothic literature prior to Dorian Gray?  Did disagreement with Jekyll and Hyde’s stance inspire him to write Dorian Gray?  Did he also write it as a counterargument to Jane Eyre‘s artistic views and furthermore find courage to write his scandalous book in Jane Eyre, also deemed immoral for different reasons?