In Britain homosexuals had a hard time until the Sexual Offences (No. 2) Act was passed in 1967. They had to be afraid of being caught and imprisoned. Nonetheless, many gay men stuck to their love for other men and satisfied their desires as heterosexuals satisfied theirs. One man even dared to deal with the topic (homo-)sexuality openly. This man was Joe Orton, a gay playwright, who became famous in 1963. In 1967 he wrote
a play – Entertaining Mr. Sloane. This paper focuses on that play and tries to answer the question: What role does the aspect of sexuality play in Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr. Sloane?
The introduction is followed by an overview of Joe Orton’s life in which the main stages from his birth to his early death are mentioned and described. In chapter three the play is put into its historical context. There, I will inform about the reasons why homosexuality was forbidden in England and how the Sexual Offences (No. 2) Act came about. The next chapter deals with the three main characters of the play, starting with Mr. Sloane. The second person to be characterized is Kath and the third is her brother Ed. Chapter six focuses on the aspect of sexuality in
Orton’s play. The former chapters, however, are necessary to
understand in what circumstances Orton lived and wrote and in which way the protagonists’ characters are vital for answering the guiding question. The sixth chapter is followed by a conclusion on the aspect of sexuality in Entertaining Mr. Sloane. A personal assessment rounds this seminar paper off.
Having given a short overview of this essay, I will now start with the synopsis of Joe Orton’s life. It is important for the answer of the guiding question, because his life reveals some interesting aspects which are crucial to the way he wrote. Bigsby argues in his book Joe Orton that his sexual identity is crucial to his art.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Joe Orton
3 Historical context of the play
4 Summary of the play
5 Characterisations of the protagonists
5.1 Characterisation of Mr. Sloane
5.2 Characterization of Kath
5.3 Characterization of Ed
6 The aspect of sexuality in the play
7 Conclusion
8 Personal assessment
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the role and significance of sexuality within Joe Orton's play Entertaining Mr. Sloane, analyzing how the author uses the characters' desires and the play's controversial content to critique 1960s British society and its restrictive laws regarding homosexuality.
- The biographical influence of Joe Orton on his writing style and themes.
- The historical and legal context of homosexuality in England during the 1960s.
- Character analysis focusing on the sexual motivations of Mr. Sloane, Kath, and Ed.
- The use of sexuality as a tool for social satire and institutional critique.
- The performative nature of sexuality and the disruption of traditional stereotypes.
Excerpt from the Book
5.1 Characterisation of Mr. Sloane
Mr. Sloane is a twenty-year-old young middle-class man, who was brought up in an orphanage. His parents died when he was young and Sloane has the suspicion that they committed suicide.
At the beginning of the play, Sloane comes as a lodger to Kath’s and her father’s house and is gladly accepted by the woman because he is young, handsome and good-looking. One gets the impression that right from the start, she sees him as an object to fulfil her motherly as well as sexual desires. This fulfilment of desires is an aspect which can be detected again and again in the story with reference to Mr. Sloane.
Kath’s gay brother Ed sees the young man as a desirable object, too, because he notices his well-built figure. Ed even asks him whether he does bodybuilding. Sloane tells him that they had a gym at the orphanage and that he was put in all the teams they had (relays, soccer, pole vault, long distance, 100 yards, discus, putting the shot) (cf. Orton, 2001, p. 34). He does so in order to attract Kath’s brother, for he has noticed that he is interested in sportive men. He describes himself as an al-rounder in anything Ed cares to mention. Even in life (cf. s.p.). The term al-rounder in this case not only refers to the sports he does but also to his sexual orientation.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the guiding question regarding the role of sexuality in the play and provides an overview of the essay's structure.
2 Joe Orton: This section details the life of Joe Orton, his background, his relationship with Kenneth Halliwell, and the events that shaped his writing.
3 Historical context of the play: This chapter outlines the legal and social status of homosexuality in England prior to the 1967 Sexual Offences (No. 2) Act.
4 Summary of the play: This section provides a concise plot summary of Entertaining Mr. Sloane, covering its premiere and key narrative developments.
5 Characterisations of the protagonists: This chapter analyzes the primary characters, focusing on their individual traits and sexual motivations.
6 The aspect of sexuality in the play: This section discusses how sexuality functions as a central theme and a form of social criticism in the play.
7 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the main findings, affirming Orton's role as a gay liberal playwright who utilized his work to challenge societal taboos.
8 Personal assessment: The author offers a concluding reflection on the boldness of the play and the impact of its themes.
Keywords
Joe Orton, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, Sexuality, Homosexuality, 1960s, British Theater, Social Satire, Queer Identity, Sexual Offences Act, Characterization, Taboo, Bisexuality, Literary Criticism, Performance, Moral Hypocrisy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the role and function of sexuality in Joe Orton's play Entertaining Mr. Sloane, treating it as a lens through which to critique the social and legal constraints of the 1960s.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include sexual desire, the power dynamics between the characters, the subversion of social stereotypes, and the institutional treatment of homosexuality in Britain.
What is the main research question?
The research aims to determine what role the aspect of sexuality plays within the narrative of Entertaining Mr. Sloane and how it contributes to the play's critical impact.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, contextualizing the text with biographical information about Orton and historical data regarding the laws against homosexuality.
What does the main body of the paper address?
The main body moves from a biographical overview and historical context to a detailed character analysis of Sloane, Kath, and Ed, followed by a thematic exploration of sexuality in the play.
How would you characterize the keywords defining this paper?
The paper is defined by terms relating to mid-century English theater, the specific legal history of gay rights, and the thematic focus on performative sexuality and social rebellion.
How does Joe Orton use the character of Mr. Sloane to critique social norms?
Orton constructs Sloane as a 'blank page' of desire, which allows him to expose the moral hypocrisy and hidden carnal appetites of the older, 'respectable' characters like Kath and Ed.
Why is the relationship between the siblings and Sloane described as a 'contract'?
It refers to the final agreement where Kath and Ed agree to share Sloane for six-month intervals, effectively blackmailing him into sexual servitude to maintain their desires and cover up a murder.
What does the author mean by the term 'ortonesque'?
It describes a writing style that is outrageously macabre and utilizes shocking depictions of sexuality to force open the 'closet doors' of society's moral hypocrisy.
How does the play challenge the stereotypical view of gay men in the 1960s?
The character of Ed contradicts the contemporary stereotype of the 'feminine, over-emotional' gay man by portraying him as a successful, rational, and sports-loving businessman.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Florian Knetsch (Autor:in), 2008, What role does the aspect of sexuality play in Joe Orton’s "Entertaining Mr. Sloane"?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/154406
