Research Paper Outline

Research Paper Outline

Prompt: Relate The Picture of Dorian Gray to Oscar Wilde's life based off of his famous line: "Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be - in other ages, perhaps."

Thesis: Personal and public perception of Oscar Wilde connects him to all three main character in The Picture of Dorian Gray, allowing the intertwining of these connections to make clear that Basil, Lord Henry, and Dorian spawned from Wilde himself.

1. Oscar Wilde was controversial in the eyes of society, similarly to how Lord Henry is

controversial in the eyes of the reader.

I.   Lord Henry manipulates Dorian into living a life filled with pleasure and sin.

                                             a. Oscar Wilde is thought to have seduced the young Andre Gide into a life of

homosexuality: “It is commonly held that Wilde spiritually (but not physically) seduced Andre Gide into discovering the pleasures of homosexuality”

                                            b. Similarly to how Dorian began a socially unacceptable life of sin through the

influence of Lord Henry, Wilde persuaded Gide into a life of homosexuality,

which is forbidden in society of the time. Homosexuality is considered a sin and a crime.

II. Wilde married a woman, similarly to Lord Henry, but carried on numerous affairs

with men.

                                             a. Lord Henry views women as decoration, not to be valued: “Women are a

decorative sex” (47)

i.   Henry married his wife out of convenience for the sake of

appearance.

                                            b. Oscar Wilde married Constance Lloyd and had two sons. Despite his

marriage, he carried out extramarital affairs that were eventually found out.

i.   He married Constance Lloyd, but clearly valued his relationships

with men more.

a. Marriage for appearance.

ii. Wilde is responsible for the fleeing of his wife and children to

Europe in a desperate attempt to escape his infamy.

2. Oscar Wilde made mistakes in his lifetime that Dorian Gray managed to avoid.

I.   Dorian’s assumed affairs with different men throughout the book parallel Wilde’s

homosexual affairs, but Dorian managed to live a life as a closeted homosexual,

whereas Wilde was found out and legally punished.

                                             a. Dorian never kept a friend (with the exception of Lord Henry) long enough

to be arrested for his homosexual behavior.

                                            b. Wilde was arrested on the charge of sodomy after being reported by his

father’s lover

i.   He carried out his affair with Lord Alfred Douglas for several years,

and even returned to the relationship after his arrest.

II. Dorian managed to avoid marriage, whereas Wilde married and remained married

throughout his affairs and arrest.

                                             a. Dorian is cruel to Sibyl Vane and informally breaks off their engagement.

Dorian’s treatment of the young actress causes her to commit suicide,

making it impossible for Dorian to follow through with his promise to marry her.

                                            b. Although Wilde initially married Constance Lloyd happy and seemingly in

love, his sexual preferences changed after the birth of his second son when

Robert Ross was introduced into his life.

i.   Dorian and Oscar both caused humiliation for the women they

claimed to have loved at some point.

ii. Both Sibyl and Constance died at premature ages.

3. Although Wilde’s reputation was spoiled by his homosexual behavior, his work was viewed

as genius, similarly to the well-respected and talented Basil Hallward.

I.   Basil was a well-respected painter who put much of his own self into his work, as

seen through the portrait of Dorian Gray.

                                             a. Similarly to Basil, Wilde put much of himself in his work, for he expressed

personal issue he had with society within his writing.

i.   Homosexual inspiration can be seen throughout The Picture of

Dorian Gray, such as the homosexual impulses of several

characters.

ii. Basil Hallward’s infatuation with Dorian allows him to create the

young man’s brilliant portrait.

II. Basil’s introduction to homosexual feelings in the novel occurs when he first sees

the young and beautiful Dorian Gray

                                             a. Wilde’s first homosexual encounter and his introduction into a life of

homosexuality occurred with the young Robert Ross.

i.   Robert Ross was extremely loyal to Wilde.

ii. Dorian was not loyal to Basil and ended up murdering the artist.

                                            b. Wilde had a lengthy affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, even though Douglas

proved to be troublesome to Wilde’s security and wellbeing.

i.   Douglas was publically known as arrogant, reckless, spoiled, and

extravagant.