This paper on adultery in James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room and Stewart O’Nan’s Everyday People and their adulterous characters David and Harold was commenced by a seminar on the representation of adultery in the novel. Even though the discussions in class touched upon various aspects of the crime of infidelity, such as different historical and literary periods or cultural aspects and developments, however, to my understanding it lacked an important facet. Out of convention, probably, adultery was only discussed in the constellation of heterosexual extramarital affairs, that is, either a husband was unfaithful to his wife with another woman, or a wife with another man. Apparently, the awareness of the two novels that I will discuss in this paper and their specific rendering of the issue of adultery contributed to or even nourished my feelings of missing the essential aspect of same-sex adultery. In my research for this paper I realized that my opinion was justified, for homosexual affairs outside of heterosexual marriages have also concerned jurisdiction, legislation, and public opinion on a larger scale and still do. In this paper, however, I will only discuss these aspects marginally, for the focus lies upon the examination of adultery in literature.
Table of Contents
About this Paper
Adultery as an Entrenched Crime – Introductory Remarks
Scarlet Letters – Adultery in the Novel
“All right, yes, he could admit it: another man.” – Same-Sex Adultery
“I felt, somehow, elated.” – Reasons for Same-Sex Adultery
“It was like someone else completely” – Breaks of Identities
“Nobody can stay in the garden of Eden” – The Significance of Places and Settings
“You keep your dirt out of my house” – Conclusion
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This paper explores the multifaceted nature of same-sex adultery in James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room and Stewart O’Nan’s Everyday People. It examines how these literary works diverge from traditional representations of infidelity by focusing on the complex intersection of homosexual desire, identity crisis, and social pressure in modern and contemporary settings.
- The conceptualization and shifting social perceptions of adultery from historical to contemporary contexts.
- The psychological conflict between individual desire and social/moral expectations.
- The role of identity, specifically the repression and "coming out" of homosexual identity.
- The function of space, setting, and seclusion in shaping the experience of adulterous relationships.
- The influence of literary, stylistic, and cultural differences between Baldwin's and O'Nan's approaches.
Excerpt from the Book
“It was like someone else completely” – Breaks of Identity
An important observation was made when the disguising of identity was named as one of the reasons why same-sex adultery exists or might be committed. At the end of the preceding chapter specific conflicts of social roles that “society tends to enforce […] on its members who then impose them on themselves” (Tanner 1979: 13) are addressed. However ambiguous, adultery inflicts “a bad multiplicity within the requisite unities of social roles” (Tanner 1979: 13), meaning that adulterers may become “a paradoxical presence of negativity within the social structure” (Tanner 1979: 13). What Tanner tries to emphasize is that, for instance, a wife and mother should or cannot be the mistress or lover simultaneously, and by punishing the act of adultery with exclusion or separation from the community (Hester Prynne, for example, is sent to prison and afterwards penalized to live outside of the community) society sets out to ignore the adulterer and, thus, call them into nonbeing.
In this chapter, nevertheless, I will try to extend this addressed issue of conflicts between social roles to stress the difficulty of – possibly – ambiguous identities in regard to David and Harold and will examine the impact and meaning that confused characters may have in the context of infidelity. Even though Tanner claims that “[a]dulteress points to an activity, not an identity” (Tanner 1979: 12) I will address this problem that arises both for David and Harold as an issue of identity. First, not only because the entirety of one’s social roles constitute a great part of an individual identity (I am not trying to say that “adulterer” is, or should be, a social role), but secondly and more importantly, because David and Harold are not so much bothered and judged by their sheer acts of infidelity but with the consequences that arise from them, namely that they are confused about themselves and whom they actually love. This, obviously, connects to the problem of denied homosexuality and is, thus, significant in the context of the topic of same-sex adultery.
Summary of Chapters
About this Paper: This introductory section outlines the motivation for the study, highlighting the need to address same-sex adultery in literature, a facet often neglected in conventional discussions of infidelity.
Adultery as an Entrenched Crime – Introductory Remarks: This chapter provides a historical and cultural analysis of adultery as a crime, examining gender roles, societal expectations, and the legal status of extramarital relationships across different cultures.
Scarlet Letters – Adultery in the Novel: This chapter explores the thematic conflict of adultery in literature, focusing on the tension between the pleasure principle and the reality principle within the context of marriage and social contracts.
“All right, yes, he could admit it: another man.” – Same-Sex Adultery: This section compares the depiction of homosexual affairs in Giovanni’s Room and Everyday People, analyzing how social attitudes towards homosexuality impact the narrative representation of these adulterous acts.
“I felt, somehow, elated.” – Reasons for Same-Sex Adultery: This chapter argues that the primary motivation for the characters' adulterous behavior is the concealment of their genuine identity, shaped by social pressures against their homosexuality.
“It was like someone else completely” – Breaks of Identities: This analysis delves into the crisis of identity experienced by the protagonists, exploring how their infidelities are inextricably linked to their confusion regarding their true selves and whom they love.
“Nobody can stay in the garden of Eden” – The Significance of Places and Settings: This chapter examines the symbolic importance of physical settings, arguing that the lack of a private, enduring space for the lovers contributes to their psychological trauma and social exclusion.
“You keep your dirt out of my house” – Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the findings, reiterating that same-sex adultery is deeply rooted in identity crises and social taboos, and suggests that literary representations have evolved alongside societal attitudes toward homosexuality.
Keywords
Adultery, Same-Sex Adultery, Homosexuality, Identity Crisis, James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room, Stewart O’Nan, Everyday People, Literature, Social Norms, Gender Roles, Infidelity, Sexual Identity, Modernism, Postmodernism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper fundamentally focuses on the representation of same-sex adultery in James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room and Stewart O’Nan’s Everyday People, analyzing how these relationships challenge conventional definitions of infidelity.
What are the central themes discussed in this work?
The central themes include the crisis of identity for homosexual characters, the pressure of societal norms and gender roles, the impact of physical space and seclusion on adulterous affairs, and the distinction between individual desires and social obligations.
What is the primary objective of this research?
The primary objective is to investigate and highlight the overlooked aspect of same-sex adultery in literature, exploring how the concealment of homosexual identity within heterosexual frameworks leads to profound psychological distress and adulterous acts.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The study utilizes a literary analysis methodology, drawing on cultural theory and concepts from previous research on the literature of adultery (specifically referencing Tony Tanner) to examine the novels' character motivations, settings, and narrative structure.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers a historical overview of adultery, a comparative literary analysis of the two novels, an examination of the characters' psychological states regarding identity, and the spatial and societal factors that restrict their relationships.
Which key terms characterize this research?
The key terms include adultery, same-sex adultery, identity, homosexuality, gender roles, social transgression, and literary representation.
How does the author differentiate between David in Giovanni's Room and Harold in Everyday People regarding their crises?
The author notes that David appears more indistinct and anxious about his forbidden relationship, struggling with the decision between his fiancé and Giovanni, whereas Harold is depicted as more resigned to his situation, focusing on fulfilling his obligations as a father while maintaining his hidden life.
What is the significance of the "spaces" mentioned in the analysis?
The analysis argues that the "secluded spaces" (such as Giovanni's room) act as spatial equivalents to the characters' obscured identities. Because these characters have no enduring or legitimate "place" for their love within the larger community, they are inevitably trapped, leading to their continued confusion and ultimate inability to reconcile their desires with reality.
- Citar trabajo
- Matthias Groß (Autor), 2006, Begayal - Alienation of Affections in James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room and Stewart O’Nan’s Everyday People , Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/75363
