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Sexual Identity In Giovanni's Room

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Throughout the novel, Giovanni’s Room written by James Baldwin, there is a common theme of sexual identity. Despite how David tries to hide the truth about his sexual identity, internally he feels ashamed of admitting that he is gay. He attempts to cover up his identity by dating women, and by fleeing from destinations. David attempts to cover up the truth about his sexual identity by fleeing to different places. For example, he wanted to flee Paris when Hella got home from being abroad because of Giovanni. Hella then meets Giovanni and confronts David with questions asking about who Giovanni was and how he knew him, David becomes offensive and talks down about Giovanni. For example, when she questions why running into Giovanni in Paris would bother David, he says, “Well-I can’t do anything to help him and I can’t stand having him watch me-as though-I’m an American, Hella, he thinks I’m rich”(135). In this sense, David is …show more content…

For example, David says, “I suppose this is why I asked her to marry me: to give myself something to be moored to” (5). David is referring to the fact that he only asked Hella to marry him so that he had something that he would be anchored down to. Having a wife would make David look like he was a straight man and he would not be tempted to have a relationship with a man. Using Hella as an alibi was a perfect way for David to prove to the world his true masculinity. Giovanni’s Room written by James Baldwin had a common theme of sexual identity. David attempts to cover up his sexual identity by fleeing from America, and then again fleeing from Paris. This showed how he would do anything to avoid the temptation to act on his sexual desires. The way that he used his girlfriend Hella and his fake girlfriend as alibis, further demonstrates the lengths that he went to prove to the world that he was a straight

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