Opening The Closets: Queer Reading of ‘The Great Gatsby’

 

 

    “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald was written and published in 1925. It was an era where same-sex relationships were marked as “not appropriate” and basically, illegal. Homosexuality was not in line with mainstream society and the rising LGBTQIA members faced severe and hideous restrictions. 

    In an online platform Quora, a user raised a question “Were gay people in the closet in every state in the 1920's-1970s?” James Finn, a former LGBT activist responded that indeed in most regions especially in places where evangelical Christians are in a majority, huge numbers of lesbians and gay men remain closeted to avoid persecution and social ostracization. In the context of New York (the setting of the novel), sexual relations between persons of the same gender (variously described as "sodomy", "buggery" or "sins of carnal nature") was illegal for most of history from its days as a Dutch colony through its colonization and independence from British rule as a state in the Union, until such relations were legalized by judicial action in 1981. 

    On this account, writers have to be very careful about portraying homosexuality and representing different gender identities that don’t conform to prevailing mores. They have to be very meticulous because even though they may reflect the real diversity in society, it is not morally acceptable. However, F. Scott Fitzgerald got off the beaten track as he shared controversial scenes in his novel that made me conclude that Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, is a closeted homosexual. 

    The homosexual implications are depicted in various scenes of the book. First, the way Nick distinctly describes Jay Gatsby, particularly his smile. Then, when he mulls over turning thirty, “A decade of loneliness, a thinning list of single men to know”. Lastly, the elevator scene with McKee at the end of Chapter II. 

HOMOSEXUAL IMPLICATIONS

 

    If I did not pick this passage from a contemporary book, I would think this is an excerpt from a romance novel.  Nick seems swept away by Gatsby. The words he used weighed deep admiration and intense affection. This is very uncommon among straight men. Sure, straight men can find other guys attractive, however, in the case of Nick, he notices even the smallest details of Gatsby's character and aura. When we focus on semantics, a matter of language, we can really draw the possible repressed affection of Nick towards Gatsby.

 

Moreover, this passage shows Nick contemplating turning thirty and yet still feeling lonely and lacking, which could be of a romantic relationship he’s been yearning for. This phrase, "a thinning list of single men to know," can be read as a sly subtlety into Nick's possibly aloof and lonely feelings for quality relationships, and might even secretly be hinting at some perhaps suppressed homosexual inclinations. The loneliness he felt about the decreased available single males he could socialize with is also an idea that may be more than just about friendliness. This interpretation gives depth to the character of Nick and his relationships with other men in the novel.

Furthermore, one of the strongest and vivid evidence of Nick’s homosexuality is when he ends up in Mr. McKee's bedroom, naked apart from underwear at the end of chapter II. However, the backdrop of intimacy seems to be crossed when the friendship line becomes a little blurred beyond what is practical. The conversation between the two about inviting lunch and then the affairs where Nick finds himself in Mr. McKee's room are some of the hints toward deeper connections, indirectly stating the physical relationship that existed between these two men.

Such ambiguity in the novel only deepens the characters of Nick and his relationships with the other male characters of the book. It further proves Nick’s queerness and makes the previously mentioned passage more understandable.

    Nick comes across as judgmental of women and prefers men in other parts of the novel. Nick appears to be enamored with Gatsby and his vast clothing, and he respects Tom's muscular body. He used extremely disparaging terms to characterize Myrtle and her sister, McKee's wife, and didn't like Christine, his date at the Buchanan house party. He was nearly conflicted about Jordan. He almost mockingly depicts some of the women at Gatsby's gatherings. With him being the narrator of the story, there’s a complete absence of admirable females.

    Through queer lens, Nick's relationship with Gatsby goes beyond mere friendship and the scene with Mr. McKee adds more to his complex character and sexual ambiguity which I considered as a subtle criticism of the rigid sexual norms of the 1920s. The homosexual dynamics reflected in the novel offer a different perspective and challenge the stereotypes and societal norms. This perspective does not only reshape and rediscover Nick's role as a narrator and character in the novel but also encourages readers of contemporary literature to reflect on the real diversity and issues that exist in our society around LGBTQ+. 

How about you? How do you think Nick's queerness enhances the overall narrative? Do you think the issue of diversity and representation is effectively addressed in the contemporary novel?