Homosexuality in the Victorian Era
Homosexuality has its differences and similarities in comparison to the Victorian era. Today we see the subject blasted across our various screens and papers. The notions of masculinity is changing in this culture, whereas there were very strict senses of what being a man was all about. The family dynamic is entirely different these days from what it was back then. The Victorian era is important to look at to see the cultural context Oscar Wilde was living in. Although rarely talked about homosexuality in the Victorian era went against the notions of masculinity, threatened the family structure and in turn went against what it meant to be fundamentally British.
The notion of homosexuality was rarely spoken of in Victorian society. Unlike other European countries (Brady 17), newspapers, legislature (Brady 10; Brady 20), and medical journals (Brady 10) resisted speaking about the subject (Brady 1). It wasn’t until the mid twentieth century that sex psychology was even brought into existence (Brady 24) where it was considered to be a condition (Brady 5). This lack of information from these mediums of communication, who felt the public did not want nor need to hear about it (Brady 44), had a direct effect on the discussion of homosexuality throughout society (Brady 26). It was widely hoped that not including this information to the public would cause the problem to disappear (Brady 53).
As a result, discussion among society about homosexuality was very minimal (Upchurch 1) as Victorian citizens tended to ignore the concept of males having sexual relations with other males (Brady 27). Even playwright, George Bernard Shaw, claimed in his letters:
The notion of homosexuality was rarely spoken of in Victorian society. Unlike other European countries (Brady 17), newspapers, legislature (Brady 10; Brady 20), and medical journals (Brady 10) resisted speaking about the subject (Brady 1). It wasn’t until the mid twentieth century that sex psychology was even brought into existence (Brady 24) where it was considered to be a condition (Brady 5). This lack of information from these mediums of communication, who felt the public did not want nor need to hear about it (Brady 44), had a direct effect on the discussion of homosexuality throughout society (Brady 26). It was widely hoped that not including this information to the public would cause the problem to disappear (Brady 53).
As a result, discussion among society about homosexuality was very minimal (Upchurch 1) as Victorian citizens tended to ignore the concept of males having sexual relations with other males (Brady 27). Even playwright, George Bernard Shaw, claimed in his letters:
“It was impossible for men to express anything other than ignorance of the phenomenon or the deepest condemnation and personal distancing from it” (Brady 121).
There were, of course, some instances where publications about “gross indecency” made its way into society (Brady 1). and situations arose where officials and its citizens could not avoid discussing it (Upchurch 13). When these situations arose, the men in question were “ostracized, vilified, and cast as highly unusual aberrations beyond the pale of acceptable masculinity” (Brady 26-27). The matter of speaking of this was so extreme that making false claims about someone’s sexuality had greater consequences than committing the actual act (Upchurch 15).
This resistance of public discussion was utilized to preserve the status of Victorian masculinity (Brady 1). Homosexuality and masculinity go hand in hand (Brady 20). Beginning in the mid nineteenth-century and coming to fruition at the end of this century (Brady 35), masculinity played an important part in being socially accepted (Brady 46-7). Being masculine meant being married and being able to support their families (Brady 47). The inability to do this meant being considered not fully mascuinity and social standing (Brady 26).
The act of same sex relations threatened to separate family and private life (Brady 46). Until recently (Brady 25), little attention was given to the families of men who partook in same sex relations (Upchurch 26). Homosexual relations put a strain on the family dynamic, because the ideal male was the supporting and authoritative father as the basis for a stable society (Brady 25). Those men who did not fall in this category were regarded as outsiders in this Victorian society (Brady 35).
If a man was discovered to have sex with men and was involved in a family, as Oscar Wilde was, it was considered a crisis within that family (Upchurch 13). This crisis was often kept inside and dealt with within the family and acted as another means of discussion about the topic of homosexuality (Upchurch 48). Often wives, mothers, or sisters helped in “resolving” this crisis (Upchurch 26). The men would try to hide these desires, much like Wilde who did not have a problem hiding his sexuality for most of his life and reconciling with his wife (Brady 18). Keeping these issues within the family allowed the for the family members to remain acceptable members of society.
Laws for society combatting same sex relations have dated back to the sixteenth century (Upchurch 14), and much of British society deemed homosexuality as “the worst of crimes (Upchurch 49). This unspeakable act threatened the stability of Victorian society (Brady 46) so much so that a homosexual identity did not exist in this era (Brady 17). This does not mean that British citizens did not know the characteristics of these types of men, and they had a great distaste for them (Brady 11) during the nineteenth century (Upchurch 13).
Many believed that one could not be moral and have these sexual relations (Upchurch 16), and for this reason homosexuality was the most problematic issue facing British society (Upchurch 16). For this fundamentally British society, it was embarrassing to speak of this sexual issue (O’Connor 112). If it was a wildly spoken of topic, the structure of society would “have been shaken at its foundations (Brady 1-2; Brady 24).
It was not until the trials of Oscar Wilde that the term and idea of classifying homosexuality came to light (Brady 40). From this moment it was heavily reviewed in newspapers and other journals (Upchurch 1-2). This also resulted in connecting homosexuality with effeminacy, the arts, and certain leisure activities (O’Conor 108).
Being homosexual in Victorian society was very rarely discussed. When discussed there were severe repercussions for those men in question. The ultimate reason homosexuality was ignored and disliked was because it strayed away from the ideals of masculinity, the family life, and what it meant to be fundamentally British.
This resistance of public discussion was utilized to preserve the status of Victorian masculinity (Brady 1). Homosexuality and masculinity go hand in hand (Brady 20). Beginning in the mid nineteenth-century and coming to fruition at the end of this century (Brady 35), masculinity played an important part in being socially accepted (Brady 46-7). Being masculine meant being married and being able to support their families (Brady 47). The inability to do this meant being considered not fully mascuinity and social standing (Brady 26).
The act of same sex relations threatened to separate family and private life (Brady 46). Until recently (Brady 25), little attention was given to the families of men who partook in same sex relations (Upchurch 26). Homosexual relations put a strain on the family dynamic, because the ideal male was the supporting and authoritative father as the basis for a stable society (Brady 25). Those men who did not fall in this category were regarded as outsiders in this Victorian society (Brady 35).
If a man was discovered to have sex with men and was involved in a family, as Oscar Wilde was, it was considered a crisis within that family (Upchurch 13). This crisis was often kept inside and dealt with within the family and acted as another means of discussion about the topic of homosexuality (Upchurch 48). Often wives, mothers, or sisters helped in “resolving” this crisis (Upchurch 26). The men would try to hide these desires, much like Wilde who did not have a problem hiding his sexuality for most of his life and reconciling with his wife (Brady 18). Keeping these issues within the family allowed the for the family members to remain acceptable members of society.
Laws for society combatting same sex relations have dated back to the sixteenth century (Upchurch 14), and much of British society deemed homosexuality as “the worst of crimes (Upchurch 49). This unspeakable act threatened the stability of Victorian society (Brady 46) so much so that a homosexual identity did not exist in this era (Brady 17). This does not mean that British citizens did not know the characteristics of these types of men, and they had a great distaste for them (Brady 11) during the nineteenth century (Upchurch 13).
Many believed that one could not be moral and have these sexual relations (Upchurch 16), and for this reason homosexuality was the most problematic issue facing British society (Upchurch 16). For this fundamentally British society, it was embarrassing to speak of this sexual issue (O’Connor 112). If it was a wildly spoken of topic, the structure of society would “have been shaken at its foundations (Brady 1-2; Brady 24).
It was not until the trials of Oscar Wilde that the term and idea of classifying homosexuality came to light (Brady 40). From this moment it was heavily reviewed in newspapers and other journals (Upchurch 1-2). This also resulted in connecting homosexuality with effeminacy, the arts, and certain leisure activities (O’Conor 108).
Being homosexual in Victorian society was very rarely discussed. When discussed there were severe repercussions for those men in question. The ultimate reason homosexuality was ignored and disliked was because it strayed away from the ideals of masculinity, the family life, and what it meant to be fundamentally British.
Combined Works Cited and Further Reading
Before Wilde: Sex between Men in Britain's Age of Reform by Charles Upchurch
This source speaks of the family aspect and legislation before the Oscar Wilde case. The book also goes in depth about Oscar Wilde and the aftermath of the trials.
Upchurch, Charles. Before Wilde: Sex between Men in Britain's Age of Reform. Berkeley: University of California, 2009. Print.
Upchurch, Charles. Before Wilde: Sex between Men in Britain's Age of Reform. Berkeley: University of California, 2009. Print.
Masculinity and Male Homosexuality in Britain, 1861-1913 by Sean Brady
This is an excellent source because it describes the time and place in which the play is set. It goes over many cultural and specific aspects of how male sexuality was dealt with. Chapter 4: "Legislation" is particularly relevant to this topic as it describes many of the laws and cases in effect during that time and even discusses the case of Oscar Wilde. The source also speaks of the lack of identity associated with homosexuality. In addition, the book brings forth light on the connection of the role of a masculine man and how it was affected by men who had sexual relations with men.
Brady, Sean. Masculinity and Male Homosexuality in Britain, 1861-1913. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. Print.
Brady, Sean. Masculinity and Male Homosexuality in Britain, 1861-1913. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. Print.
Straight Acting: Popular Gay Drama from Wilde to Rattigan by Sean O'Connor
This source provides information on Wilde’s connection from his person to his characters to homosexuality. It delves into his works among many other artists following Wilde.
O'Connor, Sean. Straight Acting: Popular Gay Drama from Wilde to Rattigan. Washington: Cassell, 1998. Print.
O'Connor, Sean. Straight Acting: Popular Gay Drama from Wilde to Rattigan. Washington: Cassell, 1998. Print.
Information Collected and Organized By:
Bradley Wilkinson
Bradley Wilkinson