Extended Essays 2021

RQ: To what extent does Baldwin portray homosexual identity as a cause of destruction in Giovanni’s Room?

Introduction

In Giovanni’s Room , Baldwin presents a contradiction in his portrayal of homosexuality. There is, on the one hand, the seemingly innocent relationship between David and Giovanni, one which stands out in stark contrast to the perverse, despicable characters of the other queer men. In fact, the novel is rife with these homophobic tropes; the depiction of Jacques and Guillaume as predatory, older gay men, the description of effeminate men as disgusting and inhuman, and the impossibility of a lasting queer relationship, as depicted by the death of Giovanni. The impetus for the research question, therefore, is displayed in this apparent contradiction, of a queer man engaging with and creating such blatantly homophobic portrayals. An investigation into these characters, and the intersections of these homosexual identities, is a discovery of the intentions of the author in utilising these stereotypes. Given that the novel was first published in 1956, could it be that Baldwin was merely indulging in the homophobic stereotypes of the time? Or is this a more nuanced depiction of homosexuality, more akin to the insightful social commentaries he is known for, particularly on racism in America? Furthermore, this discussion is centred around destruction, as this is the main narrative consequence of the character’s actions; destruction of relationships, destruction of the self, and the ultimate death of Giovanni, being the main narrative threads on which these stereotypes hang. This discussion becomes all the more relevant when considering how queer narratives in media are analysed today, and the assertion that homophobic tropes are to be discouraged in fiction, that to engage in these stereotypes is to do more harm than good when it comes to these stories’ inevitable role in queer advocacy. As such, to find possible merit in these depictions is to call into question whether the use of homophobic stereotypes is always strictly harmful within a text. The novel presents homosexual identities as causes of destruction through the ways in which characters respond to their own queer identities. These responses, of self-contempt and self- denial, cause destruction of both the self and others. Destruction caused by self-contempt is depicted through Baldwin’s use of imagery, and destruction caused by self-denial is depicted through motifs of flight and reflections. However, due to the function of the narrative as a warning of the consequences of self-contempt and self-denial, both the reader and David are left with the hope that, by acknowledging these potential consequences of destruction, one may be presented with the choice of self-acceptance.

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