Examples Of Masculinity In The Book Of Delights

Views of Masculinity

Throughout The Book of Delights, there are many references to masculinity, especially pertaining to the writer Ross Gay. It is clear from the essays that he has not always had the views on masculinity he now holds. In one essay Gay writes, “For I kid you not ten years ago I no sooner would have worn this purple plush thing than jump off a bridge” (Gay, 92) referring to how his views on and relationship with masculinity have changed. It is clear throughout Gay’s book that his understanding of the concept of masculinity has become something that is not bound by gender roles. Gay delights in colors, objects beauty, and emotional values, which would normally seem unbecoming of a man. This would lead one to hypothesize that Gay believes that masculinity is less about what makes you a man, and more about what kind of man you are.

This portrays Gay as being comfortable with showing appreciation for someone who is not considered masculine. Gay proceeds to show an eye for color palettes by saying, “Our skater’s skates were a fiery pink merging into purple. (It’s a color I want to call fuchsia but I think that’s wrong. Magenta?).” (Gay, 119) The entirety of this essay depicts Gay admiring this male skater with words such as “Our skater was casting beautifully back and forth, the dazzling skates carving wakes of joy into the sidewalk”, (Gay, 119) which shows Gay’s appreciation for this skater’s expression of himself through hobbies and clothes alike. This heavily expresses Gay’s views on masculinity by expressing Gay’s views towards this man, who appears to have nothing masculine about him, and how much delight Gay takes in this