ipl-logo

Categorizing Identity In Annie Proulx's Brokeback Mountain

1062 Words5 Pages

Queer theory argues that traditional or social standards should not define or categorize gender and sexuality. Furthermore, social boundaries set upon the individual result in forcing it to perform or act as the norms dictate. Thus, desire, feelings and actions areoppressed.Moreover, queer theorists claim that categorizing identity is unacceptable in view of the fact that identity is not solid, but it changes over time and this is a continuous process. Queer studies also examine “the ways that, across history, cultures have understood or repressed queer acts, enacted queer identities, or abused or denied the existence of queer people” (de Lauretis162). In this context, I will be trying to analyze Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain and Carson …show more content…

Amelia is the dynamic one who spoils and treats him like a little boy. Carlton comments on Amelia that “the only power she knows is male power; the only language she possesses is the language of the dominant culture” (60).We could argue that Cousin Lymon, by having a heterosexual relationship with a dynamic masculine woman who acts like a man, attempts to replace his attraction for a man of the same gender and repress his homosexual nature due to the societal standards of that era. But when Marvin Macy appears he feels strongly attracted to him: “For since first setting eyes on Marvin Macy the hunchback was possessed by an unnatural spirit” (22). He forgets about Miss Amelia who has already started becoming more feminine and losing her dynamism due to her love for Lymon. Lymon admires Macy’s masculine power, though he is treated cruelly by him: “Every minute he wanted to be following along behind this jailbird, and he was full of silly schemes to attract attention to himself. Still Marvin Macy either treated him hatefully or failed to notice him at all” (22).Thus, he agrees to help Macy avenge Amelia and follows his orders. Actually, he began to deride Amelia in order to please Marvin Macy. Cousin Lymon does not express his feelings for Macy. Rather, it is his actions that reveal his admiration and attraction towards

Show More
Related
1600 Words | 7 Pages

Similarly, Walter and Lola's relationship in the novella broke away from the typical ideas of monogamy and adultery. Although Walter was seemingly committed to Phyllis, he strayed away from her and began to develop feelings for her stepdaughter, Lola. These relationships grossly twisted the construct of normal relationships. Though it was appealing to a reader, it underlyingly dramatizes this confusion. The most important moral challenge of the story is the plot itself.

Read More
606 Words | 3 Pages

(Mason 678). Readers can sense the insecurity of Leroy which is usually portrayed by a woman. We also sense this insecurity when he makes a statement about her being faithful to him. “ He is reasonably certain she has been faithful to him….” (Mason 678).

Read More
1399 Words | 6 Pages

Janet Mock gives the world a piece of refreshing honesty in her novel, Redefining Realness, relaying her experiences of growing up young, multiracial, poor, and transgender in America. This literary work provides insight to the unique challenges and vulnerabilities of a marginalized and misunderstood population. The American and even LGBT community (lesbian/gay/bisexual) often disregard the struggles of transgender women and men. As a result they are not treated as an equal people; their preferred gender pronouns are conveniently dropped in favor of forms of misidentification, they become subject to imposing interrogations about categories of sex organs and sex practice instead of appreciating questions discussing gender expression experienced by transgender individuals, and they become the topic of jokes and victims of violence. These terrors prove we live in a hegemonic culture

Read More
544 Words | 3 Pages

Pascoe’s main argument about the “fag discourse” is that the practice of predominately straight males to call other people, objects, or events fag or gay isn’t simply a matter of homophobia or a negative outlook on gay men and that instead it is part of a larger societal issue that promotes and encourages any male to be undeniably masculine. She expands on this by exploring and discussing some of the many ways that this mindset harms all those within its reach at any and every level. As the term would imply, the use of fag or gay as a negative term hurts those that are in fact gay males. Despite the fact that the term has slightly deviated from its specific use to put gay individuals down and has become a generalized insult, it still has and for the indefinite future will maintain that connection to gay men.

Read More
524 Words | 3 Pages

Queer time and space are not terms with wholly concise definitions. Often, they are a matter of

Read More
869 Words | 4 Pages

He is not true to himself or to Maggie, and is in denial of Skipper’s love for him. Brick lies to himself about his feelings for Skipper until Big Daddy forces him to face it. He then is apprehensive, because his friendship is being misinterpreted. Brick is driving Maggie insane, because he will not sleep with her. She rather stick a knife into her heart than to know Brick will never make love to her again.

Read More
475 Words | 2 Pages

People's way of thinking is strongly influenced by the patriarchal scheme of the culture in which they live, and their judgments deriving from this scheme are deeply embedded in their psyche. Gender roles within patriarchal society prescribe the hierarchical roles of men and women assumed to be “natural,” and labeled as “masculine” and “feminine” as if these categories were ontological. In this context, the heterosexual majority regards homosexuals as those who transgress traditional gender roles and thus violate the prescribed rules of the “proper” sexual behavior. It is being supposedly said that gender identity such as masculinity and femininity is not something inherent you born with but, a learned entity, a social construction. When John looks at his father’s penis in the bathroom, Gabriel beats up his son in order for John to become a “proper” man, and must not sexualized the male body.

Read More
189 Words | 1 Pages

The unequal treatment of all lives has been seen since many of us can remember. But why is that? Does not stem from genetic make-up of each human throughout our race or, is it due to other factors in each person’s life. The study of Queer theory is able to show why Western societies are set up in a way to enforce gender roles, enforces societies’ social norms of acceptance, maintain control within a capitalist society, and creates a division of superior race, class, and gender that effect power roles.

Read More
1267 Words | 6 Pages

Setting: The novel took place in the 1930’s during the Great Depression. Most of the story takes place in a ranch in northern California near Soledad. This period of time had a common struggle of finding a job and settling in a single location. Also, during this time period most people were treated differently, due to the slavery that was still occurring during the 1930’s. Main Characters: Lennie is quite strong and big.

Read More
1487 Words | 6 Pages

Walter further shows his false pride when he flaunts his newfound sense of power when Mr.Lindner, one of the Younger’s soon-to-be neighbors, offers him an unjust deal. Now that Walter has control over the family 's money, he considers himself the head of the family and decision maker; this plays an important role towards how Walter treats others now that he holds himself to a higher standard. This theme applies to Walter when the chairman of the “welcoming committee” (115) named Mr.Lindner pays a visit to the family a couple weeks before they 're supposed to move into their new home in Clybourne Park. During this visit, Mr.Lindner makes the offer of the Clybourne Park community “buy[ing] the house from [them] at a financial gain to [the] family” (118). Mr.Lindner’s offer represents the racial oppression and how the white community looks down upon and doesn’t want African american people dirtying their communities.

Read More
732 Words | 3 Pages

Moreover, when Benjamin became interested in Elaine, it creates a definite tension between him and Mrs. Robinson, who forbade him from pursuing her. Despite her rule, Benjamin is forced to ask Elaine out on a date by his parents. On the date, he treats Elaine rudely and takes her out to a strip club. Though when Elaine becomes visibly upset, Benjamin rectifies his poor attitude by apologizing to her and explaining that his actions were stemmed from his parents making him take her out. At this point, they begin talking and Benjamin realizes that he is truly comfortable with Elaine and begins to fall in love with her.

Read More
595 Words | 3 Pages

Introduction Even though there is a growing knowledge and acceptance of the LGBT community, heteronormativity is still very much the hegemonic ideology that dominates our American culture and society. While the simple definition of heteronormativity is the assumption that heterosexuality is the normal default setting for men and women, there are actually three basic components to this concept that should be taken into account when analyzing through the lens of heteronormativity. According to Schilt and Westbrook (2009), the three basic components of heteronormativity are “the assumption that there are two genders and only two genders, that gender reflects biological sex, and that only sexual attraction between these ‘opposite’ genders is natural or acceptable” (p. 441). Ultimately, heteronormativity promotes, reinforces, and normalizes the gender binary system, heterosexuality, and, more importantly, the masculine/feminine dichotomy in

Read More
723 Words | 3 Pages

There are several characters that attempt to force past societal rules onto others, such as Cecil or Mrs. Honeychurch. These types of characters are portrayed by the author as cruel or foolish (Forester 156, 196). Conversely, the characters that treat Lucy equally and give her more intellectual freedom, such as Mr. Emerson and George, are displayed differently. They are shown as kind, knowledgeable, and in some ways enlightened compared to the other characters. In this way, the author associates the old restrictive values as negative and new ideas and open mindedness as positive.

Read More
876 Words | 4 Pages

The essay Nature and Environmental Justice, opens up the different dimensions of Nature. It touches the hegemonic concept of Nature and also disclose the masculinist, racist, and heterosexual side of nature. The popular American cultural space is always in favour of some members of society while simultaneously disempowering others. In the context of U.S cultural production Nature does not have a neutral meaning. Idea of Nature is like the representation of race, gender, sexuality and class.

Read More
1205 Words | 5 Pages

James McDonald’s (2015) article “Organizational Communication Meets Queer Theory: Theorizing Relations of ‘Difference’ Differently” examined the benefits from the application of queer theory, especially in queer difference research. McDonald (2015) explored the roots of queer theory, the various criticisms these theories faced in the academic landscape, and how these theories paved the way for queer theory. Queer theory repackaged the concept of queerness from its previous negative connotations into something that stands for resistance to societal and cultural homogeneity, be it about race, gender, or other social identities (Littlejohn & Foss, 2009; McDonald, 2015). Queer theory had various influences, from cultural feminism, standpoint feminism,

Read More

More about Categorizing Identity In Annie Proulx's Brokeback Mountain

Related Topics

Open Document