Deconstructing Masculinity. Queer Interpretations in Raymond Carver's Short Stories

Seminar paper from the year 2021 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, University of Education Heidelberg, course: American Short Stories (Literature), language: English, abstract: This paper explores the representation of masculinity in Raymond Carver's short stories, with a particular focus on how Carver deconstructs traditional male roles. Carver¿s male protagonists ¿ often portrayed as insecure, emotionally disconnected, and paralyzed by their circumstances ¿ embody the collapse of conventional masculine ideals. While these characters appear to represent typical heterosexual middle-class men, a close reading suggests underlying themes that challenge normative sexual identities. By analyzing three specific short stories, this paper investigates how Carver subtly alludes to homo- and transsexuality within his construction of masculinity. Through this analysis, the paper seeks to examine whether Carver¿s work provides alternative narratives of male identity in a world where traditional sexual politics are disintegrating.