An Analysis Of The Picture Of Dorian Gray From Queer Theory

Oscar Wilde(1854~1900) is a prestigious Irish dramatist, poet, essayist, short story writer and novelist. He is often well-known for his Aestheticism, his witty remarks, unconventional manners, and flamboyant apparel. He created a good number of works, among which the most popular ones are his dramas, short stories and his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. This novel has attracted readers and scholars generation after generation. It has been studied from a variety of perspectives such as Aestheticism, Gothicism, Feminism, etc. On the basis of the research findings available, this thesis tries to make a queer analysis of the novel for being relatively new in the study of sexual identity and queer theory can better explain Wilde’s complex sexual identity which is explicitly and implicitly reflected in this novel.The thesis, mainly based on the queer theory of Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick and Judith Butler, is going to make an analysis of The Picture of Dorian Gray. It will be conducted by focusing on the queer traits of the three protagonists of the novel respectively—Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton, and Dorian Gray. By means of the analysis the thesis finally draws the conclusion that each of the character is a queer due to their special complicated sexual orientations, which also lead to their tragic life. It is also a reflection of Wilde’s life tragedy which is, in the largest sense, caused by his complex sexual tendency. It is hoped that the discovery will throw some light on better interpretations of Oscar Wilde, his novel and queer theory as well.