Homosexuality In Funny Boy

Throughout Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy, Arjie attempts to fit in, but is a victim of othering, a term described by Lois Tyson in Using Critical Theory: How to Read and Write about Literature as “judging those who are different as inferior,” (Tyson, 248). By othering Arjie, his parents and his peers outcast him; he is considered different and his differences are inferior because heterosexuality is the norm and being gay and having feminine characteristics make him a “funny boy,” a term which Arjie did not realize as derogatory until his father uses the adjective with a “hint of disgust in his tone” (Selvadurai, 17). The “disgust” expressed by his father conveys his attitude towards homosexuality. This is because the Sri Lankan society, in which

Consequently, she then prohibits him from coming into her room to watch her get ready; Arjie narrates, “I positioned myself outside my parents’ bedroom door. When Anula arrived with the sari, Amma took it and quickly shut the door” (Selvadurai, 16). Here, Arjie’s mother, or Amma, literally shuts him out of her room, the setting of feminine expression. On the other hand, Radha Aunty rather invites Arjie into her room: “For the rest of the afternoon, Radha Aunty allowed me to play with her makeup and jewelry…” (Selvadurai, 49). In contrast to his mother, Radha Aunty encourages him to express himself and his femininity; she becomes a surrogate mother and female figure for Arjie. Similarly, Daryl Uncle becomes an alternative male figure that Arjie can trust and be himself around. His parents, especially his father, does not approve of Arjie engaging in any activities he considers even slightly feminine. When Arjie was younger, his father found him reading Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women “ and declared it to be a book for girls, a book that boys should not be reading” (101). Naturally, Arjie is hesitant to show his book to Daryl Uncle in fear of being ridiculed again; however, fortunately for Arjie, Daryl Uncle comments, “‘Little Women… used to be one of my favorite books” (105). Unlike Arjie’s father, Daryl Uncle does not question

And big boys must play with other boys’” (Selvadurai, 20). In other words, she hopes that Arjie would become heterosexual if he blends in with the other boys and mimics their behavior. Meanwhile, during Arjie’s brief participation on the cricket team, it is obvious that his parents are not the only ones othering him, but his peers as well. Arjie mentions that he “had been excluded and humiliated by Diggy plenty of times” (Selvadurai, 173). His brother Diggy and his male cousins are not amused about having a “girlie-boy” playing with them. While these boys are still young, they already sense that Arjie is different from them and that his difference is an abnormality. As a result, Arjie is ecstatic that Jegan invites him to jog with him. According to Tyson, homosocial activities are “an important part of human experience” (Tyson, 176). Through jogging, they strengthen the bond between each other and Arjie grows more confident about himself. Furthermore, in one instance, Jegan defends Arjie and states, “‘I don’t think there’s anything wrong with [Arjie].’” By defending Arjie, Jegan reveals that he accepts Arjie for who he is, which in turns encourages Arjie to learn to accept himself. Once Jegan leaves, his spot is filled by Shehan, who also defends Arjie; he is described as “the leader in [their] friendship,