Homosexuality In Giovanni's Room, By James Baldwin

1271 Words3 Pages

From the 1860s to the 1950s, Paris had not established itself as the city of love, but rather the city of sex. It was a slummy city that served as an escape from the racial and sexual oppressions of America (Andrew). In the United States, people who associated with the LGBTQ community were discriminated against and could not take pride in who they were without judgment. James Baldwin’s literary work, Giovanni’s Room, highlights what it was like to be homosexual in a time where it was not accepted. The novel Giovanni’s Room takes place mainly in 1950s Paris, a city in which, at the time, economic expansion and social change were booming (Andrew). David, the main character in Giovanni’s Room, grows up in New York, but ends up moving to Paris …show more content…

David wants to commit to marrying Hella and proves that by saying, “I wanted the same bed at night and the same arms, and I wanted to rise in the morning, knowing where I was” (Baldwin 104). Another aspect of growth is shown through the growth of David’s insecurities, to the point that his inner conflict gets the best of him and he disregards any true feelings he has inside for Giovanni. At the end of the novel, it is clear that David is not in a good mental state. He is consumed with the happenings of his relationship with Giovanni and with Hella. Hella eventually finds out about Giovanni, leaves David, and heads back to the United States. Giovanni gets involved with some legal issues and his execution date arises as a result. David is all alone and has no one left to turn to. Because he could not face and accept his true self, David faces the consequences of not having any relationships. The fear of judgment and the need for acceptance were the driving forces behind David's descent. One can even argue that David’s “love” for Hella was only fueled by the shame he felt for himself and therefore was never love at

Open Document