MovieChat Forums > This Boy's Life (1993) Discussion > Arthur Gayle character

Arthur Gayle character

posted 9 years ago by robken0174
2 replies | jump to latest

Hollywood usually potrays a gay character as the "oh, poor me" victim. I like how the Arthur character is portrayed as an arrogant jerk who starts trouble with Jack and his friends. There are plenty of gays like Arthur in the world, but usually Hollywood and the media play them out to be the poor victim, bullied by those darn redneck types. It's part of it's cowardice ways.

Sure, the character Arthur turned out to be Jack's friend, but he initially insulted him wirhout hardly knowing him.

Oh, i know it's so un-pc to speak honestly of some groups, but there's hate and intolerance coming from some members of all groups. Hollywood is just to scared to portray it often.

[–] Jack2979 9 years ago

I would have liked to have seen more of Jack's friendship with Arthur Gayle - specifically how he balanced being friends with the tough crowd and Arthur at the same time. Obviously Arthur was made fun of by the whole town, I just can't imagine that Jack didn't get some of it too for being friends with him.

On another note I always felt so bad for Arthur during the piano scene. He looked so happy to be with Jack, but after he kissed him he knew Jack would never feel what he felt for him. Sad scene played out very well.

[–] pmac7902 9 years ago

I don't think it was so much that he was an arrogant jerk. Put yourself in his place. He was out walking his dog and see's three boys sneering at him and making snotty jokes. It's probably not the first time either. My take was that he decided to just get down to business. Sure, he threw out an insult but unlike Jack and his buddies, he did it face to face instead of under his breath from a distance. THAT is cowardice. Arthur had guts.

This wasn't Hollywood taking a stand and saying "We're tired of these gays always being the victims! Let's make a jerky gay guy!" and it definitely wasn't meant to show that gays have hate and intolerance too. Especially considering it was Arthur that extended the "olive branch" after the Boy Scout meeting. It was a life lesson for Jack. He'd always run with the pack and said and did the things the pack did. This time he learned to look a little deeper, do his own thinking. The ass kicking just brought that point home to him in a memorable way.

~~~"Who do you think you're dealing with? Guess again."~~~