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Submitted by WHAMTAM on April 20, 2006
Category: English
Words: 1646 | Pages: 7
Views: 316
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What is a homosexual? What is a homosexual in the 19th century? These two questions give completely two different answers. The difference is the time periods, now versus then. In the 19th century, there wasn’t an established “homosexual.” The topic of homosexuality was not discussed, nevertheless, in American literature (Rubin 130). “The public culture’s judgment [of]… same-sex sexuality was a subject to be denied, or even worse, bitterly denounced (Doyle 447).” But Willa Cather subtly brings up the sensitive topic in her 1905 short story, “Paul’s Case.”
Cather’s short story is about a young man named Paul that has troubles at school and his father in Pittsburg. The story describes his mundane life on Cordelia Street but also how he escapes from this life through the theatre and art museums. And when this wasn’t enough, he eventually steals some money and leaves for New York. While in New York, he lives his “dream life” of luxurious commodities until he was sought out by his father. Not wanting to go back to the life he despised, Paul resorts to suicide.
One can tell from the story that Paul was different. Paul was different from all the other boys on his street and from the boys he worked with. But how was Paul different? Although, he is first described wearing fitted, worn clothes adorned with an opal pin and a red carnation in his buttonhole, he still looks “dandy” (Cather 112). He has a sparkle to his eye and bares a certain grin on his face. He loves working at the theatre, he loves the museums, and he adores the artists. He keeps a bottle of violet water in his drawer. When he arrives in New York, he instantly shops for the best clothes and accessories including Tiffany’s silver with “endless reconsidering and great care (122). He orders flowers for his room. All these signs subtly point out Paul’s effeminacy.
Knowing that he is different, Paul must hide his effeminacy. As mentioned, the bottle of violet water is hidden from his...
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