----- Original Message ----- From: "Travis Edmunds" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 11:16 AM Subject: Re: Stephan King
> > >From: "Robert Seeberger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Subject: Re: Stephan King > >Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 19:20:07 -0600 > > > >The only bad thing I have to say about it is in regards to the > >indecision of Quinn being gay or not. The whole question of his sexual > >identity was handled clumbsily and was the only time I can recall Rice > >fumbleing similar subject matter. > > This is where I must disagree. Here is where I say very loudly: "I been readin Anne Rice long before you were born boy!!!!" <G> Actually i think you mistake the nature of my complaint. >First of all, Quinn is blatantly bisexual. He > says so in the book a couple of times, and Anne tells us in more subtle ways > herself. Knowing as we do that Rice does not work from outlines when writing, and at the onset does not know in any more than the vaguest of ways how the book will progress or end, the matter of Quinns sexuality underwent drastic shifts that were quite pointless, illuminated nothing, and did not progress the story. First Quinn is shown to be a stereotypical pantywaist of the type usually accused of being queer (whether it is true or not). At this point the reader is led to believe that Quinn is as gay as most of Rice's Vampires. Up to this point Quinn shows exactly zero interest in women. Then Quinn has a homosexual experience with Goblin, who is male and a ghost. This seems to confirm the readers initial expectations as does a scene where Quinn loudly proclaims himself to be gay. Then Quinn professes great admiration for a male teacher who thinks Quinn is "into" him, but says he really is not interested in that kind of relationship with this particular person. Then in somewhat quick succession, Quinn Has sex with and fathers a child by a black servant he has known his whole life, has rapturous sex with a devious female ghost who was a prostitute in life, and then falls instantly in love with mad abandon for a witch who also happens to be heir to a massive fortune. There is a point in the book where Quinns sexuality shifts from exclusively homosexual to exclusively heterosexual. And the only time Quinn is described as bisexual is during the heterosexual part of the story. I think that initially Rice intended for Quinn to fall in love with Lestat de Lioncourt (doesn't everyone?), but changed horses in midstream. >As for his sexual identity being handled clumbsily, it was not. It > was simply done in typical Rice style; a style which NEVER fumbles in regard > to this subject matter. It may be quite easy though, to fumble her words and > ideas (as you did in this book) yourself. Speak only for yourself. Only you know what is in your mind. >But you see one must understand, > that in Rice's Universe sexuality is everything. Take the Vampires for > example. Once the transformation from a human to an immortal is complete, > they no longer have the use of their sexual organs. Yet they retain a strong > male or female identity. BUT, at the same time this identity is not > overshadowed so much as it is blended in with asexual, or perhaps more > accurately, bisexual behavior. Nearly every character, mortal and immortal > alike, has absolutely no inhibitions as to who they have sex with. It's just > her style of writing. And in the case of Quinn, his sexual identity, if > anything, is actually quite clearcut. More so than may of her characters. > > Yes, that is all true. And yet that is why she has become almost a parody of herself. xponent I Have No Penis Yet I Still Feel the Yearning to Use One Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
