Re: that dare not speak its name?

Subject: Re: that dare not speak its name?
From: Will Hochman (hochman@southernct.edu)
Date: Fri Nov 09 2001 - 21:24:56 GMT

I think Allison's good question is evidence of close reading and of
our culture's learned respect for homosexuality. Though I didn't read
Holden as gay, I think this is one of our list's more interesting
questions. There aren't a great many gay, bi or lesbian references in
Salinger's published work or biography, but I will agree with Allison
that Holden's sexuality is worth questioning. For one thing, prep
school life hints at homosexuality in that boys sleep together
(there's that scene of Holden wanting to sleep in Ackley's room) and
the fight scene between Holden and Stradlater could have been about
Holden's jealousy, but maybe not of Jane? After all, Holden didn't
bother to say hello to her and preferred to stay and talk with
Stradlater. Not sleeping with a prostitute is very understandable on
several heterosexual levels but that scene does show Holden
withdrawing from chance for heterosexual sex. In the end though, I
really see more proof of Holden's awkwardness, perhaps based on
honest soul searching, perhaps also based on his age. Scottie, who I
believe is a genuine psychiatrist, makes good sense in his fine post.
However, his idea of homosexual maturation (showing to another boy or
man in Holden's case) makes me wonder if it's possible for Holden to
be different from those classic patterns? Maybe Salinger wanted both
Holden and Antolini to remain ambiguous?

will 

-- 
	Will Hochman

Assistant Professor of English
Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent St, New Haven, CT 06515
203 392 5024

http://www.southernct.edu/~hochman/willz.html

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