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Essay on Analysis of Baldwin's Giovanni's Room

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Baldwin portrays sexual oppression in his novel entitled, Giovanni's Room. Sexual oppression is exemplified through individual homosexual white men who are unable to find happiness or contentment in themselves or in everyday relationships. In Baldwin's 'Everybody's Protest Novel' he writes, 'but our humanity is our burden, our life; we need not battle for it; we need only to do what is infinitely more difficult-that is, accept it.' Giovanni's Room is about each individual's need to accept their own humanity and societies need to embrace the universal theme of suffering. Baldwin uses the main character David to exemplify an individual's struggle to accept himself, unfortunately his rite of passage is thwarted by his inability …show more content…

David?s desires and feelings, felt foreign to him and he could not accept their validity. Instead of embracing his humanity, he ran from it in order to protect himself from his fears. Loneliness became the shelter which hid David?s insecurities. David?s internal journey continues on in Europe where he begins to associate with a group of homosexual men who are unable to find lasting satisfaction in any relationship. These friendships grow while his American girlfriend is traveling and contemplating his proposal for marriage. David?s internalized homophobia is brought to the surface among his new found acquaintances who prod David on his true sexual identity. His fears, however, are now able to be concealed through his relationship with Hella, who does not provide the same contentment as Joey or Giovanni, but who provides a shelter which is not as lonesome. This safety net which Hella provides allows him to confront his internalized homophobia with Giovanni. Giovanni and David?s first encounter symbolizes the power of human connection in society. They were both immediately drawn to each other and it seemed as if fate was handing David the passion and desire he lacked in life. However, with this came his internalized fears and the visibility of his true identity. ?I told myself all sorts of lies, standing there at the bar, but I could not move. And this was partly because I

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