An Analysis of the Importance of Setting In James Baldwins Giovannis Essay

An Analysis of the Importance of Setting In James Baldwins Giovannis Room - Essay typefaceThe story itself is closely written and intriguing, moreover many of the elements involved are only able to arise in the unique atmosphere of Paris. This paper depart attempt to examine some of the reasons for Baldwins choice of setting.The two American characters in the novel have both left the United States for different reasons. David, the narrator, claims that I cherished to find myself (p. 31) when leaving towards France, reflecting in hindsight that he would only find the self that he kept trying to escape. His past hinges on a dysfunctional family relationship with his father, who spent most of Davids youth drunk, to the point that by the time David grows older and the father attempts to get closer, then David no longer wishes it. Davids rejection of his father stems from two stem turn causes firstly, David has begun to judge his father and, while not disapproving of the alcohol ex actly, David resents his fathers emotional absence with the years. Secondly, David has had at least one homosexual experience by this time - with a boy named Joey - whom he then promptly rejects. Davids actions show a subconscious shame about his own homosexual tendencies, as well as a concern that his father might discover this aspect of his son. Davids departure from the United States is an attempt to put physical distance between himself and his father, as well as psychological distance between himself, the experience with Joey, and the possibility of his fathers discovery. Hella is on a similar journey of self-discovery with similar parallels of trying to escape. She is from Minneapolis and not overmuch is said about her hometown. Instead, she is absent the first half of the novel because she is in Spain, contemplating Davids marriage proposal. Hellas quest is to find a nobler purpose in her life than to fuck off an average mother and housewife, that when she returns to Pari s, she grudgingly says that its really all Im good for. (p.163). Her spirit is broken. Her old stance had been that a womans attachment to a man was degrading, yet she now feels that even though a man will always be a stranger to a woman, she will only be at large(p) once she is committed to a relationship. She claims that women get attached to something by default. (p.167), and that, essentially her purpose is therefore defined by Davids need for her. Both of these characters go through an evolution in the course of the novel they seek to escape their own nature, then accept it for a time and are happy, only to become sorry in the end by denying it once more. David only acknowledges his love for Giovanni when Giovanni is slated for execution Hella leaves David when he needs the most support, primarily because of the revelation of Davids love for Giovanni.Because of the very nature of the Americans, they are portrayed in sharp contrast to the Parisians. Hella declares that coming back to Paris is always so lovely (p. 160), implying the American romanticism attached to the city, but her true confusion of the Europe experience is hidden in her description of Spain its very beautiful. I just didnt know what I was doing there. David, while he venerate Parisian life, identifies closely with the his fellow customers at the American Express Office, whom he perceives as having a quality unedited, unrealized the sorrow of the disconnected. (p. 119). These aspects have become