ipl-logo

Allusions In Giovanni's Room

804 Words4 Pages

In Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin uses the motif of biblical imagery to great affect throughout the story. There are allusions to the garden of Eden in David’s discussion with Jacques (page 25), the symbol of the crucifix in Guillame’s bar (page 39), David’s reference to Judas and the Savior (page 111), and a mention of the walled city of Jericho (page 123). Perhaps most poignant are the names David and Giovanni, harkening back to the books of Samuel, and offering a more hopeful interpretation of Giovanni’s demise. These allusions offer a strong cultural counter point to the presence of homosexuality in Giovanni’s Room and challenge the societal narrative David is surrounded by.
Baldwin effectively mixes the taboo of something considered a sexual perversion in David’s world with the sanctity of the Bible. This juxtaposition is show most clearly in David’s encounter with a man in drag at Guillame’s bar. This person is described in gruesome terms: “It looked like a mummy or a zombie…something walking after it had been put to death…The shirt, open coquettishly to the navel, revealed a hairless chest and a silver crucifix…” (39). David is absolutely revolted by this man, referring to him as “it”. His revulsion comes largely from the social expectations of masculinity, …show more content…

Looking to the books of Samuel, Giovanni can be seen as Jonathan (Giovanni being the Italian version of John) and David, of course, as David. While most Christians would look to David and Jonathan’s relationship as a close friendship, some interpretations do find a sexual connotation in their love. In David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan he states, “Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women” (NIV, 2 Samuel 1.26). Baldwin’s use of these names was intentional, and if we think of David and Giovanni as an allegory for David and Jonathan there are some interesting conclusions to be

Show More
Related

How Does John Updike Use Figurative Language In Pigeon Feathers

619 Words | 3 Pages

For example, David and his family moved from Olinger to Firetown. Firetown can be seen as a symbol to David questioning whether there is a heaven or not. Another symbol Updike uses is David’s grandfather’s bible, it symbolizes David’s faith. While David is questioning his religion, a small part of him still hopes that there is an afterlife, so he searches for it in an old, worn out bible-which is much like his fate, worn out.

Read More

Homosexuality In Just Above My Head By James Baldwin

1538 Words | 7 Pages

In the novel, Just Above My Head written by James Baldwin, the theme of homosexuality is discussed throughout the book. One key passage that involves homosexuality is when Hall says, “Arthur had to pull himself to a place where he could say to Paul, his father, and to Hall, his brother, and to all of the world, and to his Maker, Take me as I Am! (472). This passage from Hall can be significant especially in Arthurs life because he needs to finally coming to terms with his sexuality and accept himself for who he is. He no longer wants Arthur to hide who he is and wants him to tell the world, and specifically his maker, which would be god, that this is who he is and he is not changing.

Read More

Robert Jensen The High Cost Of Manliness Summary

714 Words | 3 Pages

Society should not base masculinity with these traits since it is learned by observation and demonstration, and this leads men to disconnect their emotions. The author is trying to take away the blindfold on society's eyes because there is an injustice towards men and woman. These aspects of masculinity are how men are taught to be, but if we remove, eliminate, or ignore those aspects and misconceptions men will express their emotions openly without having to restrict themselves and be able to fit in society or at least feel like they are a part of the society. As you can see these views make men disconnect with their emotional side Jensen mentions this when he gives the example of his friend that worked on Wall Street and his friend described it as “coming to work as like walking into a knife fight when all the good spots along the wall were taken” (131). If we stop identifying masculinity as conquest, men would stop trying to be competitive, dominant, and even violent men might not need to always be on their guard to keep this appearance all the

Read More

Quotes From 'The Norm Is The Image Of God'

804 Words | 4 Pages

1. Quotes/passages: “the wonderful world that the Old People had lived in; as it had been before God sent Tribulation” Page 1 This excerpt is important to the book and in general because it is where David was thinking of the Old people who are considered today to be us in today’s society. It shows that something happened to them in the past (today) which was a nuclear disaster that took place giving everyone some sort of “superhuman powers’ and eventually everyone died of it. 2.

Read More

Masculinity In Giovanni's Room

599 Words | 3 Pages

Baldwin writes, “I knew I could do nothing whatever to stop the ferocious excitement which had burst in me like a storm” (Baldwin 42). The diction in this sentence shows the readers how guilty David feels as he describes his love for Giovanni, a frenchman that he meets and falls in love with, as ferocious excitement and a bursting storm. David says that he couldn’t even pretend to be sorry that Hella, his fiancée, was off in Spain. Even though he wishes he was upset that she is away, he can’t be because he is too busy loving Giovanni. The descriptive language used by the author helps the audience comprehend David’s guilt on his sexuality and its effect on his

Read More

Michael Kimmel's Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code

967 Words | 4 Pages

History has repeatedly given men privilege due to their physical advantages; yet it is these same advantages that have developed into “rules” or expectations that all men should conform to in order to prove their manhood. Michael Kimmel’s essay, “‘Bros Before Hos': The Guy Code” outlines the “rules” where men are expected to never show any emotions, be brave, act knowledgeable, be risk takers, be in control, act reliable, and be competitive, otherwise they would be showing weakness which is analogous to women. It is humiliating that men associate weakness with women; they should focus on the potential of the individual rather than their gender. Most insults toward men attack their masculinity because society finds it shameful for men to be

Read More

The Symbolism Of Darkness In Giovanni's Room By James Baldwin

1602 Words | 7 Pages

Throughout the novel, David shows that he is a selfish person even admitting when he says “…because the motives which lead me to Giovanni’s room, were so mixed, had so little to do with his hopes and desire, and were so deeply a part of my own desperation…” David is saying that he only moved into Giovanni’s room to fulfill his own needs. In this sense, David was using Giovanni has a type of distraction and he did not take into consideration how Giovanni felt about him, proving him to be selfish. David constantly has a desire for sex and does not care if its Giovanni or somebody else. He admits to that desire by saying “…dreamed of the touch of hands, of Giovanni’s hands, or anybody’s hands, hands which would have the power to crush me and make me whole again.”

Read More

Treblinka Gas Chamber Analysis

1033 Words | 5 Pages

For this reason, Webb alludes to the Greek God Thanatos and the king of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah: David. The essence of her reference is to capture the reader’s attention and encourage deeper

Read More

Internalized Homophobia In Giovanni's Room

1236 Words | 5 Pages

In “James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room: Expatriation, ‘Racial Drag,’ and Homosexual Panic,” Mae G. Henderson postulates that David’s “internalized homophobia...is a consequence of social sanctions that pathologize or criminalize homosexual identity and activity” (310). David’s internalized homophobia serves as the greatest hindrance to accepting his same-gender attractions. During his initial encounter with gay men in Paris at Guillame’s bar, David’s observations suggest his repulsion towards the men’s feminine presentations: “I always found it difficult to believe that they ever went to bed anyway, for a man who wanted a woman would certainly have rather had a real one and a man who wanted a man would certainly not want one of them” (27). David implies that “real” men need to perform the typical gender roles expected of a straight man in order to be appealing or desirable and that under these circumstances, there is no way for two men to be equally masculine in a sexual

Read More

Character Analysis: A Mickey Mantle Koan

1516 Words | 7 Pages

However, although the boys were living in an area that is unfamiliar to baseball, they still were able to make the most of the situation, and augment their relationship through the sport. Duncan gives John and David a beautiful area to escape from the typical childhood responsibilities, and toss around a ball, conversation, and emotion. The reader can truly tell the brothers’ relationship when David explains, “Our talk must have seemed strange to eavesdroppers. We lived in our bodies during catch, and our minds and mouths, though still operative, were just along for the ride.” Stuck between an apple orchard and Douglas firs, this was a place dedicated to just the boys.

Read More

Analysis Of The Essay 'Letter From A Region In My Mind' By James Baldwin

642 Words | 3 Pages

The way in which Baldwin describes his first encounter with what would become his church home is important to the narrative that follows and shows a remorseful recollection of the events. Baldwin describes the event as becoming involved in “the church racket” as he “surrendered to a spiritual seduction” (5). As Baldwin was young at the time, his decision to use the word “seduction” showcases a predator- prey relationship that was used to lure him into the church. It also alludes to the pimp/prostitute relationship that he mentions became a way of life for some of the people he grew up with. This was a clear and direct choice that Baldwin made to connect the church and the streets and show that their lifestyles were ultimately not very different from one

Read More

Essay On The Chrysalids

1018 Words | 5 Pages

This shows the change David has made with his views and choices. In the beginning of the book, David wished for extra arms as a harmless joke only to realize that making that joke costed him and got beat by his father. David then kept quiet as he didn’t want to express his own feelings due to trauma he has suffered. By the end of the book, David runs away with his friends in protest to his father’s rules and to express who he truly is. From the beginning of the book to the end, David has shown examples of him changing who he is as a person for the better.

Read More

Masculinity As Homophobia Analysis

1394 Words | 6 Pages

“Masculinity as Homophobia” an article by S. Kimmel, that talks about how men these days have the fear of being judged and ranked based on their manhood. There are some arguments that the Professor mentions and uses in his article that supports his argument and some experiences from other people 's perspective in life of men over the years. The author’s main argument is about how men these days are being watched and judged closely based on how they walk, talk, eat, dress, move and look like. The author explains how the world is judging men and how it tries to take that power and that pride of being a man.

Read More

Essay On Masculinity

1064 Words | 5 Pages

Masculinity (also called boyhood, manliness or manhood) is a set of attributes, behaviors and roles generally associated with boys and men. But the culture doesn’t end at the definition, it starts from there. The first thing to come to mind when the word masculinity is heard is usually a man flexing his gigantic muscles, as the word might sound to suggest, and that right there is the current culture of masculinity because sadly, in the world we live in, not everyone has a “muscular body”. So far we know the concept of masculinity, but the culture is what is truly hampering.

Read More

Rappaccini Short Story

1422 Words | 6 Pages

Rappaccini looked between Professor Pietro Baglioni and his daughter that lie dead before him. His demeanor shifted from that of a calculating scientist to an impassive, unfeeling man. The blank stare upon the doctor’s face was unnerving; his face was like a plain wall, stationary and yielding no emotion. Giovanni too afraid to say anything looked up at the window in hope of a rescue from Professor Baglioni, but instead he found an empty window frame. Giovanni felt abandoned by his father’s friend, and to think he relied on his help in a significantly horrid situation, like he found himself in, only to find the embodiment of abandonment.

Read More

More about Allusions In Giovanni's Room

Related Topics

Open Document