I am currently re-reading The Picture of Dorian Gray. The truth is that Lord Henry and Dorian Gray are both some what heroes of mine (Put the two together and we have Oscar Wilde, clearly). The copy of the book that I have acquired has study notes in the back which I have finally decided to read along side the book. I must shamefully admit that I know very little about the Oscar Wilde Trials, but while I was browsing through the notes I came across thee most truthful and beautiful speech about love. When Wilde was asked on trial if his reference to 'the Love that dare not speak it's name' (in chapter 10 of Dorian Gray) meant 'unnatural' love he replied with the following:
"The Love that dare not speak its name" in this century is such a great affection of an elder for a younger man as there was between David and Jonathan, such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy, and such as you find in the sonnets of Michelangelo and Shakespeare. It is that deep, spiritual affection that is as pure as it is perfect. It dictates and pervades great works of art like those of Shakespeare and Michelangelo, and those two letters of mine, such as they are. It is in this century misunderstood, so much misunderstood that it may be described as the "Love that dare not speak its name," and on account of it I am placed where I am now. It is beautiful, it is fine, it is the noblest form of affection. There is nothing unnatural about it. It is intellectual, and it repeatedly exists between an elder and a younger man, when the elder man has intellect, and the younger man has all the joy, hope and glamour of life before him. That it should be so, the world does not understand. The world mocks at it and sometimes puts one in the pillory for it."
To be frank, no one could true argue against this. It is sad that the primitive and uncertain views on homosexuality througout the ages has subjected individuals into being made to dignify their love and suffer for it.
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