Tired of the Seduction
Queer Theory Analysis on I’m Tired of the Seduction of Boys
Equality has always been part of the struggles of the gay community and through gay/lesbian/queer literature, they are able to express and justify their ideals. In the poem, the main character or the narrator’s identity is vague. It was not made clear if the narrator is a girl or a boy, thus giving a clear light about the “humanness’ of a person; that it does not matter what your sexual preference is, you’re still a human being that needs to be respected in the community. For the most part of the poem, the author talks about how unclean boys are and it seems like he’s describing them as pigs or something in a very sensual way; somehow ironic and contrasting. I the later parts, he talks about the sensation of sex and the character’s thoughts of reversing roles, that perhaps it might be the right time he will be the one that will seduce the boys, instead of them seducing him/her. The final two lines, “and do the seducing for a little, spare change”, are the most disturbing. I might be wrong on this one, but the “spare change” he/she is talking about is not the subtle role reversal of the character seducing the boys but rather the literal spare change, which is money. If it were so, then the poem would turn out to be about prostitution. It makes more sense if it really was about prostitution and the character might not be really a she but a man. Most probably the poem really is about prostitution of men or even prostitution on general, which even though illegal, is rampant in our country. The author has shown a side of the male prostitute which many cannot see. The strength of the character as a person and his dream to one day, or even a moment, change positions and be on top and in control of the situation. The words “spare change” really stuck me. One meaning, as said earlier, is the literal sum amount of money he receives with his job and the other one is the reversal of position. As the
Equality has always been part of the struggles of the gay community and through gay/lesbian/queer literature, they are able to express and justify their ideals. In the poem, the main character or the narrator’s identity is vague. It was not made clear if the narrator is a girl or a boy, thus giving a clear light about the “humanness’ of a person; that it does not matter what your sexual preference is, you’re still a human being that needs to be respected in the community. For the most part of the poem, the author talks about how unclean boys are and it seems like he’s describing them as pigs or something in a very sensual way; somehow ironic and contrasting. I the later parts, he talks about the sensation of sex and the character’s thoughts of reversing roles, that perhaps it might be the right time he will be the one that will seduce the boys, instead of them seducing him/her. The final two lines, “and do the seducing for a little, spare change”, are the most disturbing. I might be wrong on this one, but the “spare change” he/she is talking about is not the subtle role reversal of the character seducing the boys but rather the literal spare change, which is money. If it were so, then the poem would turn out to be about prostitution. It makes more sense if it really was about prostitution and the character might not be really a she but a man. Most probably the poem really is about prostitution of men or even prostitution on general, which even though illegal, is rampant in our country. The author has shown a side of the male prostitute which many cannot see. The strength of the character as a person and his dream to one day, or even a moment, change positions and be on top and in control of the situation. The words “spare change” really stuck me. One meaning, as said earlier, is the literal sum amount of money he receives with his job and the other one is the reversal of position. As the