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The revelation to the "homosexual"

Created: 08/17/15

Replies: 3

Posted Aug. 17, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
N*Starr

Join Date: 03/13/14

Posts: 51

The revelation to the "homosexual"

Was anyone else troubled by the juxtaposition of the descriptions of a pedophile and the examination of the gay comedian? I found the intermingling of the topic of pedophila and the descriptions of the gay man's sex life to make comment tha some how these two sexs of people were somehow equal. It seemed like an old incorrect argument revamped and dusted. I found it to be incongruent.


Posted Sep. 03, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
roberts

Join Date: 08/20/13

Posts: 31

RE: The revelation to the "homosexual"

That is an interesting observation, but I personally do not believe that Koch intended to juxtapose Ralph's pedophilia with the comedian's homosexuality. In disclosing Ralph's sexual attraction to Julia the author, in my opinion, was exposing a dimension to Ralph of which the reader was previously unaware and was additionally creating the basis for Marc's suspicion of Ralph following the rape.

The character of the comedian provided a vehicle for Koch to illuminate Marc's view of homosexuality, and I believe was unrelated to Ralph's behavior.

The book, at its core, offers an exploration of sexuality, and the characters and their relationships all further that end.


Posted Sep. 28, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
shirleyf

Join Date: 04/25/11

Posts: 63

RE: The revelation to the "homosexual"

I really couldn't figure out why this was inserted here and was bothered by it because I feel that he was equating homosexuality with pedophilia in that he felt they were equally inappropriate behaviors.


Posted Nov. 12, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: The revelation to the "homosexual"

While some readers might think that section of the book was a comment on what the author considered inappropriate behavior, I really did not think much of it when I was reading the book since the story was filled with all sorts of inappropriate behavior. No subject is taboo in this book it seems, and perhaps that's part of the message: the acceptable, seemingly appropriate public-face of some people versus their behind-closed-doors.


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