Opposition: For or Against?
Original reasons for this novel banning: Unclean, homoerotic, vulgar, poisonous
Nhi: I am against the banning of literature. Thoughts and ideas should be shared and discussed, it is the basis of life. With that being said, I feel the same way about The Picture of Dorian Gray. I think the meaning of the book is all based on how you look at it. The novel is about indulging in pleasure and desires, it is all very psychological. Dorian is living without a conscience because his painting is taking all the physical consequences. I like to think of the story as a lesson, even if you think you can live without consequences, eventually it will catch up to you. The time period of which this novel was written was not truly prepared for such a piece of literature. People were not as open minded to such thoughts of a different kind of sexual orientation.
On the other end of the spectrum, if I had to ban this book, there are a few glaring reasons. The big one for me is the open degrading of the female gender. In the original manuscript Dorian had a plethora of mistresses for his heterosexual ventures. Females were regarded as accessories, their opinions were not valued, if Dorian had been a woman, this novel would have been completely different. The other reason I would ban it would be for the adoration of hedonism and aestheticism. As I had mentioned above, it is all about perception. While you could take away from the novel that it was a lesson, you could also view it as something to yearn for. Why live a life of regard and caution when you can do what you want, given the money, when you want it. Especially during that time period when life expectancy is shorter than modern day.
Jamie: Just based on what I've learned about "the Picture of Dorian Gray" so far, I'd guess it was banned for a number of reasons.
First, the novel's depiction of art, and the way it criticized those in the Victorian age who let themselves be deeply influenced and overcome by art -- holding the affirmation that art has no purpose and is "all together useless." This book was published during a time when art was respected as a tool for education and regarded as a sign of high class, so a critique like this likely didn't go over well with people from all walks of life.
Secondly, I'd guess the homosexual undertones of the novel had something to do with it. I read somewhere that Oscar Wilde thought of homosexuality and the relationships between men as a sign of superiority, and if that's true I think it really shines through in his work. Wilde loves to paint a pretty picture with his words; his prose is as purple as it gets when it comes to describing Dorian in particular. Point is, I think the queerness of the novel is sort of difficult to miss, and I can imagine it causing some reads to spin.
Lastly it was probably banned just on account of Oscar Wilde's personal character. He was a gay author in an intolerant time, and I'd think that alone would be enough to get his book ripped off the shelves, no matter what he'd written about. I think anything he would have written -- queer or otherwise -- would have been banned the instant Wilde was exiled, regardless.
Virginia: The Picture of Dorian Gray was banned for a couple of reasons. I believe some of the main ones are that Lord Henry portrayed an “inappropriate lifestyle” and the homoerotic tendencies throughout the book. From the beginning Basil is absolutely infatuated with Dorian, he goes on and on about how great of a person that Dorian is and how handsome he is. This type of talk coming from a girl would be looked down upon, but definitely not a reason for banning. However Basil is no woman and that is the start of the homoerotic tendencies. The same kind of bragging and swooning that Basil displays is like that of a 14 year old girl in love with a boy band. On the other hand we have Lord Henry who also finds a fondness for Dorian. Lord Henry is more of a football jock wanting to prove that he can have Dorian. Not only does Lord Henry pursue Dorian, but he is also a terrible influence on him as well. Being sure to let Dorian know that being a man of the world is a great experience, which Dorian takes into consideration. This is something that is alerting to the readers because they were afraid of the negative influences it would have on the children in the community. Reading about all the immoral going on’s that Dorian is a part of made many question whether or not the book was ok for the public to read. Funny enough the yellow book in The Picture of Dorian Gray is much like the book itself. Lord Henry explains that a book can only be poison to a person if they allow it to be. Much like the worries of the critics of The Picture of Dorian Gray the yellow book brings critics to wonder if it could poison Dorian Gray. And the book does poison the young mind of Dorian Gray leading him to a life of immoral behaviors and actions, which brings us back to the homoerotic tendencies. There are a lot of suggestions that Dorian had sexual relationships with many of the young men that he would hang around while attending the opium dens. All of these factors in the book lead to critics stating the immoral ways of Dorian Gray and how it could impact the book. That is why the preface was added by Wilde after it was published in a magazine in 1890. Throughout the years the morality has been questioned less as the public becomes more open minded.
Alex: As I have always thought and said in my initial journal entry for Dorian Gray, it always seemed obvious why society would want it banned. Just by reading the book you understand how much potency the Era of Aestheticism really had. If you can imagine being alive at the time, there are a good portion of the people you are around that are indulging in the most taboo of these, even if you are not given that you're middle class at least you're still living quite a materialistic and embellished lifestyle. People in these times were not only wished against hearing of such truths in their society, but wished not for those truths which they indulged in to be seen in such a shallow light as they so were. All adored being reflected as prim and proper by day, with scandals at all the parties (yes, people did party then), and did not like to state that this behavior was shallow and not anything to do with how to really be a good, polite person. Then, add in all the things that were not being addressed, yet going on at the time, and you have plenty of upset people. Wilde's original work had five hundred words removed initially, and then milled down yet again when it became an official book in 1891. In the original Oscar hinted at homosexuality, utilized taboo words such as "mistress", and so on. In fact, one of the biggest social paranoia causes of the time was sexual deviation and on what lines it occurred. When you were living an aesthetic a life as possible, beyond the prim and possible, you were now susceptible to the temptations beyond and all its deviousness. Yet, comically, it is hardly addressed in history books how devious most citizens were behind the scenes and all the ludicrous undertakings that occurred.
Original reasons for this novel banning: Unclean, homoerotic, vulgar, poisonous
Nhi: I am against the banning of literature. Thoughts and ideas should be shared and discussed, it is the basis of life. With that being said, I feel the same way about The Picture of Dorian Gray. I think the meaning of the book is all based on how you look at it. The novel is about indulging in pleasure and desires, it is all very psychological. Dorian is living without a conscience because his painting is taking all the physical consequences. I like to think of the story as a lesson, even if you think you can live without consequences, eventually it will catch up to you. The time period of which this novel was written was not truly prepared for such a piece of literature. People were not as open minded to such thoughts of a different kind of sexual orientation.
On the other end of the spectrum, if I had to ban this book, there are a few glaring reasons. The big one for me is the open degrading of the female gender. In the original manuscript Dorian had a plethora of mistresses for his heterosexual ventures. Females were regarded as accessories, their opinions were not valued, if Dorian had been a woman, this novel would have been completely different. The other reason I would ban it would be for the adoration of hedonism and aestheticism. As I had mentioned above, it is all about perception. While you could take away from the novel that it was a lesson, you could also view it as something to yearn for. Why live a life of regard and caution when you can do what you want, given the money, when you want it. Especially during that time period when life expectancy is shorter than modern day.
Jamie: Just based on what I've learned about "the Picture of Dorian Gray" so far, I'd guess it was banned for a number of reasons.
First, the novel's depiction of art, and the way it criticized those in the Victorian age who let themselves be deeply influenced and overcome by art -- holding the affirmation that art has no purpose and is "all together useless." This book was published during a time when art was respected as a tool for education and regarded as a sign of high class, so a critique like this likely didn't go over well with people from all walks of life.
Secondly, I'd guess the homosexual undertones of the novel had something to do with it. I read somewhere that Oscar Wilde thought of homosexuality and the relationships between men as a sign of superiority, and if that's true I think it really shines through in his work. Wilde loves to paint a pretty picture with his words; his prose is as purple as it gets when it comes to describing Dorian in particular. Point is, I think the queerness of the novel is sort of difficult to miss, and I can imagine it causing some reads to spin.
Lastly it was probably banned just on account of Oscar Wilde's personal character. He was a gay author in an intolerant time, and I'd think that alone would be enough to get his book ripped off the shelves, no matter what he'd written about. I think anything he would have written -- queer or otherwise -- would have been banned the instant Wilde was exiled, regardless.
Virginia: The Picture of Dorian Gray was banned for a couple of reasons. I believe some of the main ones are that Lord Henry portrayed an “inappropriate lifestyle” and the homoerotic tendencies throughout the book. From the beginning Basil is absolutely infatuated with Dorian, he goes on and on about how great of a person that Dorian is and how handsome he is. This type of talk coming from a girl would be looked down upon, but definitely not a reason for banning. However Basil is no woman and that is the start of the homoerotic tendencies. The same kind of bragging and swooning that Basil displays is like that of a 14 year old girl in love with a boy band. On the other hand we have Lord Henry who also finds a fondness for Dorian. Lord Henry is more of a football jock wanting to prove that he can have Dorian. Not only does Lord Henry pursue Dorian, but he is also a terrible influence on him as well. Being sure to let Dorian know that being a man of the world is a great experience, which Dorian takes into consideration. This is something that is alerting to the readers because they were afraid of the negative influences it would have on the children in the community. Reading about all the immoral going on’s that Dorian is a part of made many question whether or not the book was ok for the public to read. Funny enough the yellow book in The Picture of Dorian Gray is much like the book itself. Lord Henry explains that a book can only be poison to a person if they allow it to be. Much like the worries of the critics of The Picture of Dorian Gray the yellow book brings critics to wonder if it could poison Dorian Gray. And the book does poison the young mind of Dorian Gray leading him to a life of immoral behaviors and actions, which brings us back to the homoerotic tendencies. There are a lot of suggestions that Dorian had sexual relationships with many of the young men that he would hang around while attending the opium dens. All of these factors in the book lead to critics stating the immoral ways of Dorian Gray and how it could impact the book. That is why the preface was added by Wilde after it was published in a magazine in 1890. Throughout the years the morality has been questioned less as the public becomes more open minded.
Alex: As I have always thought and said in my initial journal entry for Dorian Gray, it always seemed obvious why society would want it banned. Just by reading the book you understand how much potency the Era of Aestheticism really had. If you can imagine being alive at the time, there are a good portion of the people you are around that are indulging in the most taboo of these, even if you are not given that you're middle class at least you're still living quite a materialistic and embellished lifestyle. People in these times were not only wished against hearing of such truths in their society, but wished not for those truths which they indulged in to be seen in such a shallow light as they so were. All adored being reflected as prim and proper by day, with scandals at all the parties (yes, people did party then), and did not like to state that this behavior was shallow and not anything to do with how to really be a good, polite person. Then, add in all the things that were not being addressed, yet going on at the time, and you have plenty of upset people. Wilde's original work had five hundred words removed initially, and then milled down yet again when it became an official book in 1891. In the original Oscar hinted at homosexuality, utilized taboo words such as "mistress", and so on. In fact, one of the biggest social paranoia causes of the time was sexual deviation and on what lines it occurred. When you were living an aesthetic a life as possible, beyond the prim and possible, you were now susceptible to the temptations beyond and all its deviousness. Yet, comically, it is hardly addressed in history books how devious most citizens were behind the scenes and all the ludicrous undertakings that occurred.
First Amendment
Book banning originated back to around the time of Plato when writings of fables and legends were supervised and all that were unsatisfactory were burned or destroyed. Later on when the printing press was invented, Henry VIII required all original manuscripts to be sent to the Church of England for approval. In 1873, Anthony Comstock created "Comstock Law" that ended up banning 350 books from different authors. Today, most book banning are from local schools or libraries. If enough people protest the ban then books are usually returned to the public.
When it comes to the First Amendment, it is there to protect the public from being exposed to contents that shouldn't be viewed, on the other hand it is also there to protect the originator from being harmed for their ideas. At least, that is my interpretation of it.
Quoting from the First Amendment Center,
"The First Amendment was written because at America’s inception, citizens demanded a guarantee of their basic freedoms.
Our blueprint for personal freedom and the hallmark of an open society, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition.
Without the First Amendment, religious minorities could be persecuted, the government might well establish a national religion, protesters could be silenced, the press could not criticize government, and citizens could not mobilize for social change."
Book banning originated back to around the time of Plato when writings of fables and legends were supervised and all that were unsatisfactory were burned or destroyed. Later on when the printing press was invented, Henry VIII required all original manuscripts to be sent to the Church of England for approval. In 1873, Anthony Comstock created "Comstock Law" that ended up banning 350 books from different authors. Today, most book banning are from local schools or libraries. If enough people protest the ban then books are usually returned to the public.
When it comes to the First Amendment, it is there to protect the public from being exposed to contents that shouldn't be viewed, on the other hand it is also there to protect the originator from being harmed for their ideas. At least, that is my interpretation of it.
Quoting from the First Amendment Center,
"The First Amendment was written because at America’s inception, citizens demanded a guarantee of their basic freedoms.
Our blueprint for personal freedom and the hallmark of an open society, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition.
Without the First Amendment, religious minorities could be persecuted, the government might well establish a national religion, protesters could be silenced, the press could not criticize government, and citizens could not mobilize for social change."
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky was banned for homosexuality, sexually explicit content, drug use, suicide, offensive language, unsuited for the targeted age group. I chose this book due to the similar challenged homosexual content. Although Basil's emotions were muted in Dorian Gray, Patrick is an openly flamboyant boy who is dating a boy who is still unsure about his sexuality. Dorian Gray hid out in opium dens while the characters in Perks experimented with a lot of drugs. Dorian Gray was targeted for a more mature audience which as it turned out was not ready for his tale, while Perks was targeted to a young adult audience which also seemed to be the wrong audience.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker was banned for homosexuality, offensive language, and its sexually explicit content. I have not read this book but going over its summaries, I have come to understand some of it. Once again, the similarities lies within the homosexual content between the two books that the public have an issue with. The other thing that both books were charged for was the language that lied inside the books. Dorian Gray had to censor certain words and phrases from being used such as how Gray's relations with women were deemed as "mistresses". That seems to be a slightly more modern and rougher charge for The Color Purple. And although there were no sexually explicit scenes in Dorian Gray, I have a feeling Oscar Wilde might've included some during those years Gray was on the loose.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding was banned for being demoralizing, explicit language, racial slurs, lewd comments about God, women and the disabled, and glaring comments about sex. I have read this book and I will admit it was a very difficult read. The idea of society boiling down to nothing being considered as animals was very difficult to swallow. How they were able to hunt and kill one another was just mind boggling to me. Both of these novels had very different ideas about society given their time and place. They both demoralized women, seeing them as the inferior gender. They both praised the stronger, more capable body, those are the ones who will rise above the rest. In the Lord of the Flies, it is the one who is the bravest and fastest, who is willing to kill without flinching that will lead the pack. In Dorian Gray, it is the one with more materials and beauty who will be talked about and loved on.