Homosexuality In The 1980s

The word “lost”, taken from the first passage, can be interpreted to mean something that has perished or been destroyed; ruined, especially morally or spiritually; (of the soul) damned. In the 1980s, same-sex attraction was very often seen was a sin and a moral wrongdoing. In the passage, Harper states that “maybe lost is best”, which implies that perhaps it is time that Joe embraced his sexuality; and although the usage of the word “lost” emits a negative connotation, it is nonetheless very meaningful because being openly homosexual in the 1980s was not something that was often encouraged, and it is in the context that Joe, as a religious man, can understand because he also see it as a sin. Furthermore, the tone of the passage and the fact

The usage of the word desire can be implicative of sexuality since it is often used to denote it, e.g. same-sex desire. Because of heteronormativity, the act of being gay is not something that just is—it is a process, hence the verb “coming” in “coming out”. This push for progress can be seen as a push for coming out and being openly gay, which is also seen in the first passage where Harper encourages Joe to be “get lost” and “go exploring”, phrases that also contain verbs and suggest a certain type of movement. The opposite of this would be Joe standing still by pretending to be heterosexual and continue living a lie. Thus, Joe being in the closet constitutes him staying still, and his coming out implies progress. Moreover, one of the definitions of the word “rock” is a large mass or pile of something (OED). Being in the closet is like having a big secret, one that piles up with each feeling of same-sex desire and love that. Prior’s firm statement that “we’re not rocks” suggests that people cannot be expected to keep their love and desires piled up and hidden. The word “still” can also signify a secret and being silent. Thus, Prior’s opposition to being still demonstrates an opposition to being silent and secretive about one’s sexuality. Additionally, the fact that Prior is arguing this to an angel, a celestial creature part of a social