James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room

2969 Words6 Pages

James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room

James Baldwin’s novel Giovanni’s Room is titled such for the purpose of accentuating the symbolism of Giovanni’s room. Within the novel Giovanni’s room is portrayed with such characteristics as being Giovanni’s prison, symbolic of Giovanni’s life, holding the relationship between Giovanni and David, being a metaphor of homosexuality for David and being a tomb underwater. These different portrayals of Giovanni’s room are combined within the novel to create an overall negative metaphor of homosexuality as perpetuated by society. These different portrayals of Giovanni’s room are dirty, suffocating and restricting; Baldwin is showing the reader that homosexuality can be understood as all of these things, detrimental as they are. The novel is a reflection upon the common belief in society that homosexuality is unnatural and wrong, causing homosexual men to turn societal negativity into self hatred.

One of the metaphors for Giovanni’s room is the parallel created linking his room to his jail cell. When Giovanni is in jail, David wonders about the jail cell he is in and says, “I wonder about the size of Giovanni’s cell. I wonder if it is bigger than his room” (113). In David’s thought he creates the definition of Giovanni’s room being a cell. The prison cell is close in size to his room, and it is also much like the room in that he is stuck there as a prisoner. Giovanni’s permanence in his room, as in the jail cell, is further exemplified when David is talking about the room; “I’m talking about that room, that hideous room. Why have you buried yourself there so long?” (117). David is directly comparing Giovanni’s room to a tomb, which, like a cell, is an imprisonment. David is say...

... middle of paper ...

...rget it. This negative view of homosexuality is enforced by society, which David absorbs into himself.

Through David and his perception of the many metaphors contained within Giovanni’s room, James Baldwin is showing a negative interpretation of homosexuality as identified in society. The metaphors within Giovanni’s room are Giovanni’s prison, symbolic of Giovanni’s life, holding the relationship between Giovanni and David, being a metaphor of homosexuality for David and being a tomb underwater. These metaphors are negative and exist to demonstrate to the reader that homosexuality is restricting, punishing, dirty and suffocating. These negative connotations of homosexuality are brought from society and internalized by the characters and builds into self hate.

Works Cited:

Baldwin, James, and Caryl Phillips. Giovanni's Room. London: Penguin, 2001. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Raisin In The Sun Comparison Essay

    565 Words  | 2 Pages

    The apartment is contrasted by both the bar and their new home. The bar is clearly seen as a symbol of the vices that keep us from taking hold of our dreams. In contrast, the new home is seen as a symbol of the fulfillment of those dreams. I am very pleased that the director was very thoughtful on navigating the restrictions that he faced in the use of different settings in the film to drive home the motifs that the original play alluded to so well.

    Read More

  • Sexuality in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and A Street Car Named Desire

    2387 Words  | 5 Pages

    The capacity of sexual feelings within the individual is central to both the development and fundamental basis of any significant character. As observed in both 'One flew over the cuckoos nest' (AKA Cuckoo's nest) and 'A Street car named desire' (AKA. St. car) sexuality emerges as a principal device used in defining a character to the audience. By the reliance on and close association of the text with the stereotypical characters found within society, the characters presented to the audience can be made more identifiable with. The physical description of a character can therefore be said to be symbolic of its sexuality, "Broad across the jaw shoulders and chest"[1] and in likening a description to a stereotype "I fight and fuh..too much"[2] this can be greater reinforced.

    Read More

  • Montana 1948

    832 Words  | 2 Pages

    A loss of David’s innocence appears during his killing of a magpie. This “it can be done in a flick of the finger”. The particular significance about this plays an important part in his as he considers that he also is capable of committing such unfortunate yet immoral things. “Looking in the dead bird’s eye, I realised that these strange, unthought of connections - sex and death, lust and violence, desire and degradation - are there, there, deep in even a good heart’s chambers”.

    Read More

  • John Wyndam's The Chrysalids

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the beginning of the Chrysalids, we meet David as a ten-year old boy who has conformed to meet his parent’s strict standards. David then meets a girl named Sophie, who turns out to be a mutant, something he should be frightened of. It is then David first begins to question his father’s beliefs, as shown in the quotation, “A blasphemy was, as had been impressed upon me often enough, a frightful thing. Yet there was nothing frightening about Sophie. She was simply an ordinary little girl,” (Wyndham 14). This phrase is the spark that will ignite the fire of rebellion inside David, as he realizes that his father’s beliefs may not be morally correct and are often flawed. Naturally, David begins to feel a bit betrayed by his father for leading him astray and forcing wrong beliefs upon him, and th...

    Read More

  • James Baldwin's Fifth Avenue, Uptown

    492 Words  | 1 Pages

    Baldwin gives a vivid sketch of the depressing conditions he grew up on in Fifth Avenue, Uptown by using strong descriptive words. He makes use of such word choices in his beginning sentences when he reflects back to his house which is now replaced by housing projects and “one of those stunted city trees is snarling where our [his] doorway used to be” (Baldwin...

    Read More

  • Giovanni's Room American Dream

    2070 Words  | 5 Pages

    For example, the passage takes place in Giovanni’s room, which is a small, crowded room. When David describes the room, he describes it as messy and with trash everywhere. Sensory image is used to amplify how messy Giovanni’s room is. David says, “The table was loaded with yellowing newspapers and empty bottles and it held a single brown and wrinkled potato in which even the sprouting eyes were rotten” (Baldwin 87). David later admits, “I examined the contents of the innumerable boxes and suitcases and disposed of them” (Baldwin 88). Sight imagery is described with the yellowing newspapers, empty bottles, boxes and suitcases which emphasize how disorganized Giovanni’s room was. The description of Giovanni’s room foreshadows how messy David’s and Giovanni’s relationship is. David admits, “Each day he invited me to witness how he changed, how love had changed him, how he worked and sang and cherished me. I was in terrible confusion.” David does not know how to feel about Giovanni, his thoughts and emotions about him are all over the place like the newspapers, suitcases and empty bottles in the room, but at the same time he likes being in Giovanni’s room because it allows him to feel safe and makes him feel appreciated. Giovanni’s appreciation for David is shown when David reveals how Giovanni is grateful when David is in his company, he says, “…Giovanni smiled his humble,

    Read More

  • James Baldwin Notes For A Hypothetical Novel

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    James Baldwin’s “Notes for A Hypothetical Novel” is part of a collection of essays entitled, Nobody Knows My Name. James Baldwin opens “Notes for a Hypothetical Novel” by stating that he wishes to write a novel about where and with whom he grew up (Baldwin 222). James Baldwin believes a novel should contain two important components. First, a novel should note that the events occurring locally reflect events occurring nationally or globally. For example, James Baldwin witnessed the transition from championing African Americans in the arts during the Harlem Renaissance to condemning them following the Great Depression (Baldwin 223). James Baldwin believes the evolution of the African American image in the 1920s is a micro event that was influenced by macro events that were occurring nationally (Baldwin 223). In addition to the connection of micro and macro events, James Baldwin believes that a novel should describe reality, not a romanticized situation. Both of these components are difficult to attain in a novel, because of the innate ability of Americans to avoid certain truths, resulting in an incoherent American identity. There is a discrepancy between the true American identity and what American perceives.

    Read More

  • Symbolism in James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues

    1244 Words  | 3 Pages

    At several points in the story, Baldwin emphasizes the quickness at which Harlem residents fall to the pull of evil. The children of Harlem are de...

    Read More

  • Literary Devices in Carver's Cathedral

    1505 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hence, upon analyzing the story, one can conclude the certain themes that parallel through the pages. Firstly, a theme of unity and trust is present at the end of the play. This is supported by the image of the cathedral, which is a place of unity. Most importantly, the notion of equality among people is the main theme within this story. The narrator starts as a biased, idiot, who dislikes all people that are not like himself. He even at times is rude to his wife. Ironically, it takes a blind man to change the man that can literally see, to rule out the prejudices and to teach him that all men are created equal.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Self Awareness In The Chrysalids

    1281 Words  | 3 Pages

    Now, we can’t do that - but you and Rosalind can. Just think that over Davie. You two may be nearer to the image than we are” (64). David has always been doubtful about his thought-shaping powers because of the Waknuk community’s stance on mutants and deviations. When someone like Uncle Axel says that he believes David is closer to the image than norms are, David feels more confident in himself and his place in Waknuk’s twisted society. Uncle Axel is a fatherly figure and role model to David, so David confides in Uncle Axel and trusts his instincts and his knowledge. Therefore, David is getting closer to accepting himself as a unique individual, with the help of Uncle Axel’s suggestions. In addition, Uncle Axel clarifies what makes a man, man. David thought it was their soul but Uncle Axel states: “Well, then, what makes a man a man is something inside him… No, what makes man man is mind. It’s not a thing, it’s a quality, and minds aren’t all the same value; they’re better or worse” (79,80). Uncle Axel is a firm believer that the Definition of Man is nonsense and now he expresses his beliefs to David. David is conflicted between Waknuk’s

    Read More

  • A Review on the Works of James Baldwin

    1343 Words  | 3 Pages

    The works of James Baldwin are directly related to the issues of racism, religion and personal conflicts, and sexuality and masculinity during Baldwin's years.James Baldwin's works, both fiction and nonfiction were in some instance a direct reflection his life. Through close interpretation you can combine his work to give a "detailed" look into his actual life. However since most writings made by him are all considered true works of literature we can't consider them to be of autobiographical nature.

    Read More

  • Life in a Nutshell: Black Girl, A Short Story by Sembene Ousmane

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    The story clearly illustrates that when one thinks of their ideal lifestyle they mainly rely on their personal experience which often results in deception. The theme is conveyed by literary devices such as setting, symbolism and iconic foreshadowing. The abolition of slavery was one step forward but there are still several more steps to be made. Steps that protect everyone from human trafficking and exploitation. Most importantly, racism is something that needs to stop, as well as providing equal opportunity to all without discrimination.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Giovanni's Room

    1421 Words  | 3 Pages

    The book Giovanni’s room was a story about a guy (man) named David and his life struggles. David went through most of his life without being able to admit to himself or to anyone else that he was gay. Throughout the whole book things kept coming up in his life that show he’s in love with men but he doesn’t admit it. David had experiences that started as a teenager going through his adult hood years with men. David always found ways to convince himself he was in love with girls or attracted to them.

    Read More

  • The Narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper

    832 Words  | 2 Pages

    Under the orders of her husband, the narrator is moved to a house far from society in the country, where she is locked into an upstairs room. This environment serves not as an inspiration for mental health, but as an element of repression. The locked door and barred windows serve to physically restrain her: “the windows are barred for little children, and there are rings and things in the walls.” The narrator is affected not only by the physical restraints but also by being exposed to the room’s yellow wallpaper which is dreadful and fosters only negative creativity. “It is dull enough to confuse the eye in following, pronounced enough to constantly irritate and provoke study, and when you follow the lame uncertain curves for a little distance they suddenly commit suicide – plunge off at outrageous angles, destroy themselves in unheard of contradictions.”

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Tom Wingfield In The Glass Menagerie

    1900 Words  | 4 Pages

    During one’s life journey, here on earth, one is forced to live and deal with their internal and external conflicts. Such conflicts forces one to live a dismal lifestyle, until one gets the opportunity to free themselves from such lifestyle. In The Glass Menagerie, Williams portrays the protagonist Tom Wingfield as a miserable human being who lives life for the sake of living. Throughout the course of this paper, readers will get the opportunity to learn that Tom’s sister, Laura Wingfield and his mother, Amanda Wingfield help him escape from his dejected life; therefore, Tom is free—both physically and mentally. Tom’s freedom will now allow him to chase after his dream, which is to live an adventurous life and to write poetry—live his life

    Read More

More about James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room

Open Document