It is of my personal opinion that Wilde was speaking directly
when he wrote that “There is nothing unnatural about it”. He argues that
queerness is no different than heterosexuality. His examples of pederasty and
his mention of important, well-known queer men of the past, as well as his referring
to homosexuality as intelligent, was his way of trying to mold homosexuality
into something that his accusers could perceive as sophisticated and arguably
scientific. I think that this is the point which resonates the most with the
present-time battle for queer-love. I think about Lady Gaga’s song, “Born This
Way” and the common misconception that doing, acting, or watching something can
turn a person queer. It’s a topic that
we will also be talking about in class when we cover the neuroscience unit. I
do believe that in pointing out the historical figures of the past –in the same
way we use him now—was a good move towards making a point that should not have
been ignored, (especially since fame, status, and power seem to be the however,
his reference to pederasty, I feel were counterproductive.
He was in a no win situation. He could not admit to sodomy or gross indecency. That was a crime. He was not able to allow Bosie's father to "slander" him as a "somdomite". He chose to sue him. That was unwise. Once the second and third of his trials come about he is fighting vast amounts of evidence that proved to the court what he never overtly admitted.
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