Homosexuality And Masculinity Crisis In Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out

This thesis discusses the dynamics between homosexuality and masculinity in Take MeOut, a2003Tony Award winning play written by the American playwright Richard Greenberg.Adopting a men’s studies’ point of view, this thesis examines the construction of masculinityin baseball as well as its influences on the players. Moreover, by focusing on the coming outexperience of the protagonist, the thesis reveals the negative attitudes toward homosexualityand the prevailing sense of homophobia in baseball. With further analysis of how theprotagonist subverts the homosexual stereotypes, problematizes and finally deconstructs thetraditional power relations between hegemonic masculinity and homosexuality, the thesisconcludes that the writer challenges traditional male gender hierarchy and argues for a moretolerant and fluid view of gender through the portrayal of an untraditional gay image in thesport. Through the discussion of a comparatively recent play written in the21stcentury, thisthesis incorporates new ideas and findings in men’s studies in an effort to study the newdevelopments of American gay drama and gender politics as reflected in the homosexualcommunity.