senoritaraquelita

t1_jd92pz5 wrote

One can appreciate the complexity of a character and ultimately decide to like them or dislike them. I personally come down pretty neutral on the character of Giovanni - I definitely think he is misogynistic but that a lot of that is a result of the society he was brought up in as well as his jealousy and pain. I do however HATE David - just make one decision man, just one!!! - but I still appreciate that he’s a well written character.

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t1_jd91fiq wrote

I still found Giovanni ~more~ likable than David. At least he takes a stand for something and is honest about his intentions while David just flops around and let’s things happen and then acts surprised when they happen. But I don’t think Baldwin’s intent was to write likable characters but to write interesting characters and I definitely think he succeeded there.

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t1_jd90wvh wrote

I think that Giovanni is a complex and flawed character who certainly expresses misogynistic views. But I think that Baldwin adds this not to perpetuate these views but to develop the character and explore the complex layers of oppression. Giovanni suffers a certain level of oppression due to his sexuality and class. However, he also benefits from a certain amount of privilege because he is a man. Instead of finding solidarity with women who are also oppressed, he exerts the small amount of power he has by asserting his superiority to women. I think this feeling of resentment towards women is amplified by his jealousy, as romantic relationship between men and women are seen as valid while any relationship he has with a man is seen as shameful and loveless. I think his resentment is misplaced but it is also understandable given the circumstances.

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