Torn Between Two Worlds Essay, Research Paper
Throughout detective fiction, individual characters simultaneously play a multitude of roles. These roles are often in contradiction of one another. Professional role conflicting with personal beliefs, while other times the characters experience an inner personal struggle.
This is duality of roles within the detective fiction novels is evident throughout the genre. Early on in such works as Sophocles Oedipus , Oedipus is not only the authority, but the perpetrator as well. Traditional detectives such as Dupin and Holmes do not experience this role conflict for they are detectives who play it by the book, putting no emotion into their cases. Hardboiled detectives are traditionally torn between justice and a femme fatal, as they take an on the role of knight in shining armor trying to protect the damsel in distress. In modern day detective fiction novels the lines between detective and justice are blurred so much that it becomes difficult to see where one ends and the other begins.
Duality of roles in not only evident in detective fictional characters, but their author s as well. Joseph Hansen, a prolific author of homosexual detective fiction, is married to a woman and leads to what appears to be the all American life. In a traditional wedding ceremony Hansen married Jane Bancroft in 1943 (Marowski, 236). The couple consummated their relationship, and has one daughter Babra (Evory, 277). Hansen even went so far as to, Immersed himself in evangelical church activities and for a time he entertained the notion of becoming a minister (Malinowski, 179). While on all appearances Hansen leads a religious and pure way of life, he had a series of male lovers on the side. One serious boyfriend, Bobker Ben Ali, was an actor with the Pasadena Playhouse (Malinowski, 179). Hansen is torn between the traditional American way of life and his homosexual desires.
Just as art often imitates life, this same role conflict that is apparent in Joseph Hansen s personal life can also be seen in the characters of his 1979 novel Skinflick. Gerald Dawson on all outer appearances is a happily married to a woman and goes on religious crusades against what he considers the tribulations of modern society. Dawson s friends described him as, an obsessively religious man. I m talking about Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You better believe it. As for sex- the subject just plain didn t exist. (Skinflick, 30-31). Dawson and his friends would go on vigilante crusades against what they considered to be the evils of the world. One time Dawson went to a porn store:
with a bunch of potbelly bastards from that church one night and tossed the place. They threw books all over. Dumped paint on the rugs they wore masks. Dawson was yapping orders, quoting the Bible. Sodom and What s-its-name? All that shit. (Skinflick, 13)
Not only did the group destroy stores, but they also went after individuals personally. The guy who owns the Oh Boy! lives halfway up the hill. Sees a funny light outside in the middle of the night. Comes out. His VW is on fire sitting there in his driveway. On fire all over. (Skinflick, 13). Dawson did not consider these acts to be illegal; rather he believes he is, God s servant. He was doing God s will (Skinflick, 5). In all outer appearances Gerald Dawson is a moral citizen upholding traditional religious values.
However, Dawson s life is not as high and mighty as one is led to believe. Dawson enjoys looking at pornographic magazines containing pictures of preteen girls. Dawson s business partner, Jack Fullbright, found him looking at magazines in his office one night. They had pictures of naked little girls in them. (Skinflick, 155). Not only does Dawson look at pornographic magazines, but he also keeps an underage mistress. Charleen led him into temptation. He got hooked. He couldn t get enough of her. Nothing mattered but sex with Charleen. He d gone around all of his life lusting in his heart after grammar school girls, nymphets. (Skinflick, 156). While from all outer appearance Gerald Dawson was a clean outstanding pillar of virtue, in actuality he was far from it.
Similar to Gerald Dawson, Charleen Sims, Dawson s mistress and aspiring movie star, experiences similar role conflicts. Charleen has an arrangement with Dawson where she, gives him what he wants, and he covers her rent and takes care of her. (Skinflick, 56). She exchanged sexual favors for a roof over her head. Charleen also saw Dawson, with his film company, as her key into the movie industry. Her ultimate goal is, to get into films. She was peddling her scrawny little ass up and down the Strip all night. And the johns she got all told her the same thing. They were agents, directors, producers. They d get her into films. (Skinflick, 55). Charleen would turn tricks and exchange sexual favors all in the hopes of eventually seeing her name in bright lights.
But Charleen is more than just a starry eyed teen who dreams of making it big in Hollywood. Brandsetter s investigation into Dawson s murder leads him to discover in one of Charleen s old yearbooks, Charleen Sims looked up at him. He checked inside the front cover. Charleen Sims in pale blue ballpoint, then Charleen Tackaberry in dark blue ballpoint, then Mrs. Billy Jim Tackaberry. (Skinflick, 165). Not only is Charleen Sims really Charleen Tackaberry, but she is married as well. Through further investigation Brandsetter learns from Charleen s father that, Billy Jim married her. They had a baby. Baby was killed. Windstorm, rain, all of that. Knocked that mobile home flat. Charleen was alone. Baby was dead in her arms. (Skinflick, 172-173). Charleen was more than just a girl with dreams of being famous, but she had a whole other life that no one in Los Angeles knew about.
Randy Van also maintains two separate lifestyles as he is a woman in pornographic films; but once th elights so off and the camera stops, Van is nothing more than a man in women s clothes. Van looks like a girl with his, big fake-gold hoop earrings and had a husky voice. Her hair was tawny, her skin was tawny, flawless over a layer of puppy fat. (Skinflick, 74). However Brandsetter soon learns this is nothing more than a fa ade. Dave reached out and laid fingers on her face. Under the heavy makeup was beard stubble. (Skinflick, 81). Van complains to Brandsetter that, reality is always messing up my life (Skinflick, 81). While Randy Van was born a male, he behaves and dresses as if he is a woman maintaining dual sexuality.
Occasionally it is essential to conceal a part of one s self in order to achieve a set objective. Hansen discovers he is homosexual, yet he maintains the pretense of the all American lifestyle by remaining married to his wife. Hansen found that no publishing company wants to be associated with a homosexual writer. Hansen was, forced for lack of any viable alternative to write for a small west coast publishers. (The Gay and Lesbian Literary Heritage, 358). Hansen wanting his message to reach a broader audience began to publish his works under various pseudonyms and kept his homosexual lifestyle a secret because he, found it easier to be accepted in society by maintain the pretense of his marriage rather than acknowledging his true sexual preference. (Nelson, 190). Hansen feels that discrimination is not only limited to homosexuals, but if, you weren t a white male of North European ancestry and equipped with at least one extra Y chromosome, you were fair game, good, bad, or indifferent. (Murder Ink, 131). Some people will discriminate against homosexuals where they would not discriminate against those of other minority groups. Hansen believes, homosexuals are as various as any other group of men and women. There are the strong and the weak, the decent and the corrupt, the bitter and the forgiving, the successful and the failures, the timid and the brave. (Murder Ink, 135). To dispel these falsities Hansen, went to the type writer determined to correct as many misconceptions about homosexuality in fifty thousand words. The idea that homosexuals are fit only to be hairdressers I swung at first, giving my hero a job the mystery tradition gives only to the manliest of men. (Murder ink, 132). To be accepted as an equal it was necessary for Hansen to hide his true sexual orientation.
Dave Brandsetter also has a secret life he hides from others. Brandsetter is a homosexual, yet he does not disclose this when he is first hired at Medallion Life Insurance. Brandsetter explains, When I was hired no one suspected I was gay. (Skinflick, 37). Brandsetter believes in order not to be discovered and maintain his job it is necessary for him, to play straight in a vicious game (Skinflick, 39). However, Brandsetter could not keep this from him employer forever, eventually all things come to an end. They found out and the charade was over. (Skinflick, 37). The firm believes that homosexuals are, a bad employment risk and untrustworthy. (Skinflick, 36-7). Instead of standing up to the firm, Brandsetter got out of Medallion before they threw me out. With no time to spare. Walking through that tenth floor was like swimming through a school of great white sharks. (Skinflick, 36). Brandsetter tries to maintain the appearances of being a heterosexual; unfortunately due to his inability to maintain the facade he forced to resign his job.
Gerald Dawson is also required to keep aspects of his life concealed from others to maintain his position in society. Dawson continues to stay married to his wife and carry on with his militia group even though he enjoys practices that contradict his actions. Dawson s preacher described him as, uncomplicated, straightforward. He had a successful business, gave God credit, contributed generously to this church- and not just in money; in works, good works of all kinds. (Skinflick, 24). Even Dawson s closest friends did not know about Dawson s secret lifestyle. If Jerry was sleeping with her, you can bet he wouldn t tell anybody, least of all me. He has his moral superiority to maintain. (Skinflick, 97). Dawson has to maintain an image for his business as well as his friends. But he is human and, they want to look at this stuff like anybody. Only they didn t have the nerve to walk in and ask for it and pay for it like that. Oh, no. They toss the place, wreck it, make out all they want is us out of the neighborhood. (Skinflick, 16). Dawson is forced to keep his private life a secret in order to maintain his appearance in society.
In life each person plays many different roles. These roles can sometimes come in conflict with one another. It is constant battle to see which role will prevail. It is these decisions that shape individuals, and makes humans more than just two dimension characters. These choices are not always easy to make. But once made, it can be even more difficult to stand behind them with conviction. Sometimes it becomes necessary not to proclaim your role in society and in order to accomplish your objectives. But one should never be ashamed of what they are and what they stand for.
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