Analysis Of The Essay 'Late Victorians' By Richard Rodriguez

In the essay, Late Victorians written by Richard Rodriguez discusses an extremely controversial topic about homosexuality in San Francisco, California during the nineteenth century. Rodriguez begins his essay with a captivating perspective about human unhappiness as he writes, “Human unhappiness is evidence of our immortality,” (Rodriguez 121). This gripping statement conveys the meaning that happiness or forever happiness is an illusion, therefore it cannot exist in the individual's life. The main idea of the essay Late Victorians draws out numerous opinions because of the historical impact of this specific era. For example, the limitations of sexuality or thoughts about sexuality for women, and homosexuals. The reoccurring theme appears to be stereotypes of

homosexuality, and being an informed reader about this disputable issue throughout different timelines as Rodriguez continues to integrate fresh narratives throughout his essay. For instance, Rodriguez states, “This way power lay: Once upon a time the homosexual appropriated to himself a mystical province, that of taste.

Taste, which is, after all, the insecurity of the middle class, became the homosexual's licentiate to challenge the rule of nature,” (Rodriguez 124). This stereotype communicates to the general public that homosexuality or the ones that fall in the boxes of LGBTQ (and more) are the individuals that have taste in fashion, makeup, food, home decor, etc., also even by claiming to be something out of heterosexuality disrupted the laws of nature which is smart for Rodriguez to input in Late Victorians. In addition, the use of symbolism in Rodriguez’s essay regarding homosexuality is portrayed as a home. The Victorian houses that were built for middle-class individuals, which were being claimed by homosexual men to live in, marry, or start a family in, in San Francisco. The portrayal of home as a place of comfort, safety, and family were things that homosexual men (or women), and anything in between craved for in mortality like heterosexual beings. Apart from the symbolism, I noticed that Rodriguez liked metaphors, anaphora, hyperbole, and repetition in his

writing. These elements are employed as a way for the reader to gain abstract details from the writer’s narrative. For example, “AIDS, it has been discovered, is a plague of absence. Absence opened in the blood. Absence condensed into the fluid of passing emotion. Absence shot through opalescent tugs of semen to deflower the city,” (128). The literary terms aided Rodriguez to beautifully convey his thoughts into words, and portray a strong first-perspective of mixing expository writing, and scenes in the essay.
To wrap up, Rodriguez constructed a remarkable personal essay. The development from different time periods, different subjects, and different narratives proves to be useful to both the reader and the story. In fact, with a compilation of the narratives that Rodriguez weaves through his textual analysis, and personal narrative he creates a safe culture for homosexuals. Rodriguez has great skills in producing abstract details that include a great mixture of expository writing and scenes. Different from the numerous essays we’ve read, Rodriguez essay is a tad long, context-heavy, yet makes it bearable for the readers to be interested to continue with the conversation about homosexuality, stereotypes about homosexuality, and the culture revolving around homosexuality.