Affirmation of Gay Space in the Willa Cather's The Professor's House

Abstract

WillaCather's novelThe professor's Houseattacksthe prevalent heterosexual culture by providing the gayrelationship. Such affinity can be seen between the main characters Godfrey St. Peterand Tom Outland. Therelationship between male characters isstrong whereasa female character with male isfeeble.Since thenovel affirmshomosexuality, itdisavowsthe prevalent norms,values and tenets of heterosexualcultureand thus counterattacks theprevalent heteronormative society. The novel questionsMcCarthyism of twentieth century which was active to abolish homosexuality in America.The Professor’s Housewaswritten in the contextof sodomywhichwasprosecutedin America between theperiodsof 1880's to 1920's. Because of this social boundarygay relationship isnotexplicitlyshowninthenovel but implicitlymanifested through queer activities.