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Victoria Cendejas
Jennifer Rodrick
Queer Studies 115
20 November 2016

Significance of the LGBTQ Identity A Single Man

The book, A Single Man, represents what and how to live as a hidden gay man in the
1960s. In the book we see Georges day to day struggles because of the fact that he was gay.
Throughout the book we also see how he manages to overcome those obstacles that he has to
deal with. Given that gay characters in preStonewall era literature typically concealed or
wrestled with their desires before meeting a grim fate, Isherwoods depiction of George as
unashamed of his sexuality was decidedly forward thinking.(Kyle Stevens) The theme of the
novel coincides with the idea of the LGBTQ identity and it is significant because of the fact that
George is gay and struggles with this everyday due to the times hes living in.

In the 1960s, being gay was considered to be a

choice instead of who you really are. Everyone thought
that every man was born straight, then they would have the
choice to convert or stay a straight man. When people
became gay, they had to deal with a lot of struggles
throughout their day to day lives. George had to deal with
this choice he had his whole life. He faced very big

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situations throughout the course
of his life. It was hard for him
because in the 1960s and they
still hadnt legalized gay rights. If
you were gay, you were
considered to be wrong. It was
considered to be a sin and against
Gods beliefs. You were
someone that had converted into becoming a gay person instead of being born as a gay person.
No one believed that it wasnt a choice; it is something that you are naturally attracted and born
into. If they had the choice, then they wouldnt convert to becoming a gay man because of how
cruel the 1960s was to gay men.

In the locker room, George takes off his clothes, gets into his sweatsocks, jockstrap, and
shorts(Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man, p. 105). The fact that George doubted himself
about whether or not he should put on a shirt shows how the idea of being a part of the LGBTQ+
community is considered to be wrong. He also has a low self-esteem and he constantly puts
himself down because he thinks that he cant seduce anyone after he has lost Jim. For example,
throughout the continuation of the chapter, he stays to himself You old ass, who are you trying
to seduce?(Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man, p. 106) He then puts his shirt on and proceeds
to doing his exercising.

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A Single Man is about a day in Georges life that turns out to be his last. It dramatizes a
mind-body dualism thats particularly poignant for a gay man: George has lost his lover, Jim, in a
car crash and from the first page we are aware of his own creeping decrepitude. But he has life;
he hasnt given up. He can pater whoever he cares to; he exacts ferocious revenge in his head
on queer-haters; and he is contrarian and unsentimental (Richard Preston). George enters into a
very bad stage or depression due to the loss of his lover/ roommate Jim. He ends up wanting to
kill himself yet he doesnt because one of his students wanted to hang out with him. He wanted
to get to know his teacher more than he already did. This coincides with the idea of the LGBTQ
identity because George thinks that his student wants something to do with him; however, in
reality he isnt. George is just receiving the wrong message because he is finally getting the
attention hes been wanting now that Jim is no longer with him. For example, when he bought
him the eraser, George cherished it and it became so important for him because he thought it was
a nice gesture and he thought his student really wanted him to feel loved. However, for his
student, it was so meaningless because for him, it was just any other eraser that he can easily
replace.

Another example would be when Kenny, his student, and George went to the beach
together. Kenny decided to go skinny dipping and George liked it. George was receiving the
wrong message from Kenny and thought that Kenny wanted something out of George. He
thought that Kenny wanted to be in a relationship with him. In reality, Kenny just wanted to have
fun and spend time with his teacher. He also got the wrong message when Kenny went over to
Georges house. He thought Kenny wanted to do things with him; however, in truth he didnt.

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In the book A Single Man, the theme of the queer community is very important because it
happens throughout the entire novel. It begins with Jim and ends with one of his students. The
book shows how hard it is to be living in the 1960s when youre a gay man. Identity,
stereotypes, and gender are some of the main factors that the characters have conflicts with
throughout the novel. George struggles with these conflicts in his everyday life and it gets really
tough for him; however, he shows us how to overcome his problems.

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Works Cited
1. Project MUSE Dying to Love: Gay Identity, Suicide, and Aesthetics in a Single Man.
Project MUSE Dying to Love: Gay Identity, Suicide, and Aesthetics in A Single Man.
Kyle Stevens, Summer 2013. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
2. Scot, Jamie. Shock the Gay Away: Secrets of Early Gay Aversion Therapy Reveled
(PHOTOS). The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post.com, 28 June 2013. Web. 15
Nov. 2016.
3. DHaene, Donald. Two Gay Men Debate Gay Pride Week. The Huffington Post.
Donald DHaene, 19 June 2013. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
4. Isherwood, Christopher. A Single Man. Farrar Straus and Giroux, 1964. Print.
5. Preston, Richard. A Single Man: On the Writer Christopher Isherwood. The
Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 5 Feb. 2010. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.