Gender Issues

doi:10.1017/9781108617208.026

Chapter 24 - Gender Issues

Sexuality

from Part III - Historical and Cultural Contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 December 2019

Linda A. Morris

Edited by

John Bird

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John Bird: Affiliation:
Winthrop University

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Summary

Mark Twain often transgressed the sexual limits of his Victorian era, pushing the boundaries of sex and sexuality in his writing. Although he generally was more reticent in his public writing, deferring to the taste of his age, he had private writings that explored sexual and taboo topics. Throughout his writing career, he played with themes of cross-dressing, often couched in comedy, but revealing an interest in the fluidity of gender roles. In his later unpublished writings, he wrote more frankly about sex and sexuality, topics that clearly fascinated him.

Keywords

Mark Twain Samuel Clemens gender issues sexuality cross-dressing homosexuality

Type: Chapter
Information: Mark Twain in Context , pp. 243 - 252

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108617208.026 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2020

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References

Works Cited

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