In Britain homosexuals had a hard time until the Sexual Offences (No. 2) Act was passed in 1967. They had to be afraid of being caught and imprisoned. Nonetheless, many gay men stuck to their love for other men and satisfied their desires as heterosexuals satisfied theirs. One man even dared to deal with the topic (homo-)sexuality openly. This man was Joe Orton, a gay playwright, who became famous in 1963. In 1967 he wrote
a play – Entertaining Mr. Sloane. This paper focuses on that play and tries to answer the question: What role does the aspect of sexuality play in Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr. Sloane?
The introduction is followed by an overview of Joe Orton’s life in which the main stages from his birth to his early death are mentioned and described. In chapter three the play is put into its historical context. There, I will inform about the reasons why homosexuality was forbidden in England and how the Sexual Offences (No. 2) Act came about. The next chapter deals with the three main characters of the play, starting with Mr. Sloane. The second person to be characterized is Kath and the third is her brother Ed. Chapter six focuses on the aspect of sexuality in
Orton’s play. The former chapters, however, are necessary to
understand in what circumstances Orton lived and wrote and in which way the protagonists’ characters are vital for answering the guiding question. The sixth chapter is followed by a conclusion on the aspect of sexuality in Entertaining Mr. Sloane. A personal assessment rounds this seminar paper off.
Having given a short overview of this essay, I will now start with the synopsis of Joe Orton’s life. It is important for the answer of the guiding question, because his life reveals some interesting aspects which are crucial to the way he wrote. Bigsby argues in his book Joe Orton that his sexual identity is crucial to his art.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Joe Orton
- Historical context of the play
- Summary of the play
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the role of sexuality in Joe Orton's play "Entertaining Mr. Sloane," aiming to understand how this aspect impacts the narrative and characters. The analysis explores Orton's life, the historical context of the play, and the dynamics of the characters' interactions.
- The significance of homosexuality in Joe Orton's life and work
- The historical context of homosexuality in England and the impact of legal restrictions
- The representation of sexual desire and relationships in the play
- The exploration of power dynamics and societal expectations surrounding sexuality
- The portrayal of moral ambiguity and challenging social norms
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction sets the stage for the analysis by outlining the research question and providing a brief overview of the paper's structure. Chapter two delves into the life of Joe Orton, highlighting key events and influences that shaped his artistic vision. Chapter three examines the historical context of homosexuality in England, focusing on the legal restrictions and social attitudes surrounding it. Chapter four provides a summary of "Entertaining Mr. Sloane," focusing on the central characters and the play's narrative arc.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key themes and concepts explored in this paper include: homosexuality, sexuality, Joe Orton, "Entertaining Mr. Sloane," historical context, social norms, power dynamics, moral ambiguity, and the representation of desire.
- Quote paper
- Florian Knetsch (Author), 2008, What role does the aspect of sexuality play in Joe Orton’s "Entertaining Mr. Sloane"?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/154406
