Now that you've read
all of
Queer, you're prepared to post questions below that speak to the text's specific features as well as its general arcs. Feel free to connect your comments on Burroughs' novella back to the other pieces we've read, e.g. what do Lee, Anthony Burns, Andrei Kazimirovich, and Jesse have to say to one another as cold war characters? What does
Queer have to say about the cold war? And what in the world do Lee's routines have to say about any of this?
On Page 106, Lee refers to a doctor who has solved a lot of the malaria problem, but then another mysterious character tells the doctor to stop fixing the problem and instead, spread the disease. Who is this mysterious character? Why doesn't he want the disease to be contained?
ReplyDeleteWhat drives Lee's desire to obtain Yage? Why does he go through all the trouble just to find a specific drug that may or may not work?
On page 118 Lee has an interesting dream about his son, Willy, who we never hear about previously in the novel. Willy is crying, so Lee picks him up and begins to cry as well. When Lee wakes up, his first instinct is to reach over to Allerton. How do you think this dream shows why Lee has strong feelings for Allerton?
ReplyDeleteWhy is yage so important to Lee? Why does he spend weeks on trips in South America to search for it, and when he is finally with the doctor that knows how to get it, he gives up and leaves with it? What would he have done with the yage anyways, give it to Allerton to try to control him?
ReplyDeleteOn page 82, Lee goes through a routine about a holy man and a reporter trying to ask him questions. The holy man administers some drugs and then the reporter ask him a string of questions: "Will there be was with Russia?" Will communism destroy the civilized world? Is the soul immortal? Does God exsist?" Why might this line if questioning be important? What might it mean that these topics are brought up only here in the book even though they seem like prevalent questions of the time? Can this explain why Lee is in mexico and south America in the first place?
ReplyDeleteLee and Allerton's relationship is bound by Allerton's financial dependence on Lee and Lee's sexual contract with Allerton. Allerton clearly is not interested in Lee, even claiming that he wanted to have sex with one of the women in Quito. Despite Allerton's complete and utter disinterest in Lee, why does Lee continue to care for Allerton and force him into a relationship?
ReplyDeleteIn each of the stories we have read, the main character is not what he initially appears to me. For instance, in “Pkhentz”, the reader is unsure of what Andrei is until nearly the end of the story. Similarly in “Desire and the Black Masseur,” Burns’ true desires are hidden until the very end of the story. At first glance, Lee simply wants to fulfill his sexual desires but as the story evolves it becomes clear that Lee is looking for a companion to confirm his existence. On page 118, Lee dreams about his son Willy. Does this dream connect Lee’s need for companionship to his past? Does being in withdrawal make Lee realize that he is an “invisible man” and thus motivate him to seek attention from Allerton?
ReplyDeleteLee has some very peculiar sexual longings for the young boys at the beach. How does this connect to Lee's dream about having a son? What purpose does Allerton serve in Lee's life? Even though he decided to travel with Lee for financial reasons, in what way does Allerton fill the his void?
ReplyDeleteLee is often stressed around Allerton because Allerton rejects Lee's physical attention at times. Perhaps this constant struggle to attain Allerton's approval both physically and mentally correlates to the internal conflict of being "queer" within Lee himself; hence, Joe Guidry mentioning that Lee was pretending to be queer on page 34.
ReplyDeleteDoes Lee's dream in Chapter 7 have a meaning? Could it be seen as Lee's loneliness and struggle to seek companionship? Furthermore, does this dream correlate to the dream he has in Chapter 9 where he is also somewhat lonely and in despair?
the fact that lee found a doctor, who knows how to get the Yage, but ended up not getting it potentially tells us Lee's journey in search for the Yage is not so much a "journey for yage", but rather "a journey for something under the name of yage". What is that something he is trying to get from this journey? Is it an excuse to go on a trip with Allerton? Is the trip itself the yage that lee could use to win over or even control Allerton ?
ReplyDelete"Think of it: thought control." - page 89, when Lee is talking about Yage, he says this, and proceeds to talk about how he could use Yage to change anyone, including Allerton. Is yage just an obvious disguise for the control that lee wants?
ReplyDeleteAnd when Lee says he wants to change Allerton because of his "irritating little pecularities", why does he want to change him (Allerton) and others so much? Why is he so obsessed with this power control?
Lee spends the entire story searching for both Yage and the affection of Allerton, but ultimately finds neither. Does this, along with Burroughs' usage of routines, prove that Lee is actually searching for recognition of his existence? Is he using his desire for Allerton as a way of drawing attention to himself?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the meaning behind Lee's interest in boyish characters and how does this help define his masculine definition of being queer?
ReplyDeleteI believe Lee and Andrei Kazimirovich are actually very similar to one another. Disregarding the fact that Andrei is an alien, it is evident to me that both characters are yearning for someone to connect with, and have a need for appreciation and/or recognition. In Lee's case those needs are very obvious; he edges on depression when Allerton rejects his advances and his use of routines shows that he just wants to be heard. With Andrei, he is about as lonely as one could possibly be, and when he notices someone else that he feels may be from the same place he is, he does all he can to connect with him. Does this sense of loneliness and need for connection speak to the authors' situations in their lives? Could it even have been a feeling that a majority of people could have empathized with at the time?
ReplyDeleteWhy is Lee so obsessed with finding Yage? Does Lee use his alcohol and drug abuse to address his feelings of sadness over the fact that Allerton has no affection for him? Is Allerton straight, gay, or bisexual? What is the difference between being queer and disembodied? is there a difference? There is a lot of talk about thought control in the second part of the book, does that relate to any aspect of the cold war and the spread of communism?
ReplyDeleteIn Lee's routine about Corn Hole Gus, there are a few references to religion. ("Allah has sent you", "with a pedigree goes straight back to the Prophet", "swear by the Prophet"). What insight, if any, does this give to understanding the meaning/significance of the routine? Further, this routine is full of racism and stereotypes. What does this aspect tell us about Lee and the overall purpose of the routine?
ReplyDeleteWhy did Allerton warm up to Lee again? Was it only for material reasons?
ReplyDeleteWhy does Lee constantly remark about other, young, lively boys in the story? What does this say about his feelings towards Allerton? Can this be generalized for the "queer" population?
ReplyDeleteQuestions from Rebecca Sai: I'm so interested in the parts where Lee is trying to talk to a man, and doesn't know whether or not he is gay--like on page 88 when he is having drinks at a bar with the young boy. How well does that situation depict the realities of gay men? 2.) If I'm not mistaken, Allerton is trying so hard not to be gay, and he is fighting off Lee every chance he gets. But if he really feels that way and has no connect to Lee, why does he keep coming back? Does he truly value Lee's friendship, or is there something bigger at work here?
ReplyDelete-Rebecca Sai
When Lee finally discovers where to find yage, he gives up. But when he is turned down by Allerton, he keeps fighting. Is he concerned more about the journey to reach what he wants or simply the chase? Or is he more concerned with emotional prospects rather that material ones?
ReplyDeleteDoes he give up the chance of finding the yage because he finally realizes he cannot control Allerton's affections?
Response to rebecca: I agree, I think it is very interesting that Allerton attempts to not be a 'queer'. But it is also interesting that Lee tries so hard to be a 'queer,' yet no one seems to believe him.
Did Lee ever have the intention to find the Yage or did Lee pretend to have interest in finding Yage so that he would ultimately be able to spend time with Allerton?
ReplyDeleteIn what way is Lee's relationship with Allerton similar to the one between Andrei Kazimirovich and Leopald? How do Lee and Andrei use their counterparts as away to find out more about themselves and how they are different than everyone else?
ReplyDeleteBurroughs replaces the repetitive use of the word "queer" with "Yage" in the second half of the novel. What is he trying to accomplish with this pattern? Whats the significance of Lee trying to force Allerton to be with him by taking Allerton to South America, but then finding that the is desolate and harsh.
ReplyDeleteWhat does it mean to Lee to always come back to Mexico City, a which is described as a transit place for most other GI students? What does it say about him that he is still there even after most of his friends have moved on to other cities?
ReplyDeleteWho is the target audience for this book? There is a lot of drug and queer slang throughout the novel that I had to look up. Does Burroughs expect this of the reader?
ReplyDelete