Original Research

White masculine desire and despair in The good doctor by Damon Galgut

M. Crous
Literator | Vol 31, No 2 | a44 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/lit.v31i2.44 | © 2010 M. Crous | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 13 July 2010 | Published: 13 July 2010

About the author(s)

M. Crous, Department of Language & Literature, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa

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Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the representation of masculinity in Damon Galgut’s novel, “The good doctor”, and in particular the interaction between the two male characters, namely Frank and Laurence. The character Frank suppresses his feelings of intimacy towards the younger Laurence through his machismo and his cruelty towards the latter. The question arises whether there is a homoerotic relationship between the two men in this postapartheid setting, or whether it is merely a mutual attempt at finding intimacy and closeness in their bleak existence. Furthermore, following Horrell (2005), the concepts of desire and despair with regard to white masculinity as portrayed in the novel will be examined.

Keywords

Despair; Homoeroticism; Masculine Desire; White Masculinity

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Crossref Citations

1. Apartheid’s Patriarchies in Decline: White Masculinities in Damon Galgut’s The Promise
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