Essay

Sexualized Language in The Aspern Papers Refer back to Washington Square p. 43 Mr. Townsend as object of desire -James own projection of homosexual desire through a female character Argue that there is definitely a homoerotic element to Aspern papers, but what James is doing with it is less certain. Different from what’s seen in W.S. *First, would the class agree that the narrator of A.P. is what we’d call unreliable, he is untrustworthy' *Secondly, is it fair to say that we are to view him as sick and perverse' I. View some passages that might hint at homoerotic desire. Might be good to jot down any words/phrases as we read that you see that might be considered sexualized while the narrator discusses either Aspern or his papers. p. 47 most genial men and one of the handsomest p. 88 But it stirred me deeply p. 97 caused all my pulses to throb, felt them too deeply to speak p. 108 flushed at the act (recall blushing in Austen) p. 121 “If only you could find out!” groaned, quivering again p. 123 desire to possess myself of JA’s papers p. 133 I gasped as it passed into my hand *What sexualized words or phrases did you all pick out' *Does anyone disagree that there’s a homoerotic tone in these passages' *Do you think that the narrator is aware of his homosexuality' *Did anyone think that James might be trying to express his own desire in these passages, as he might have been doing in WS' Why might this be a different case than WS: 1. Delusional representations of the narrator p. 73 That spirit, I had invoked him and he had come.. meeting as clear friends p. 134 I consulted JA’s delightful eyes w/ my own.. since I had known him p. 135-136 “Get out of it as you can dear fellow!” *Maybe an obvious question, but what strikes you as odd about these passages' -Delusional, fantastic, imagines having a relationship with Aspern; however, does not necessarily admit sexual attraction. Not presenting narrator favorably Secondly, a difference between WS and the AP is the problematic relationships with women presented by the narrator. -Already talked in class about how narrator distances Aspern from women: “not a woman’s poet” -Seeks to acquit Aspern of past heterosexual exploits -Also talked about his inexperience with women, and his horror at marrying ms. Tina p. 137 *Does anyone see this as further proof of his unrealized homosexuality' Because the narrator’s sexuality is both misunderstood by himself and his object is unattainable, the narrator must operate through females and heterosexuality to near his fulfillment. p. 59 Her presence, felt nearer to him.. I remember my emotions, including a curious little tremor p. 65 Irresistible desire to hold in my own the hand.. *What is Julianna’s function to the narrator in these passages' What kind of pleasure is he getting from being near her' p. 68 Convinced of her reading his letters pressing them into her withered lips *Does anyone see this as a projection of his own desire and fantasies onto Julianna' She’s doing what he wants, perhaps not even kissing the letters, but the man himself. *But again, is he aware that this is his own desire and not hers' Gondola scene p. 96 -Not as sure what to do w/ this -especially since the narrator is not interested in ms. Tina *Anyone not see the sexual language' *What is it doing here' -Overly conscious assertion of heterosexuality' Lastly, I wanted to consider the secretary scene. I would like to make the suggestion that the narrator perceives this scene as an, albeit thwarted, consummation of his desire p. 123 sense of opportunity, “unmolested” (women are absent!) p. 124 for the climax of my crisis My final question, which I do not have an answer for exactly, is why is James presenting such a problematic and perverse imagining of homosexual desire' What is he trying to accomplish by adding this in'