Intimacy in Giovanni's Room: A Radical Choice Sofia Hines College

Intimacy is a topic widely discussed and desired. Many think of intimacy as a sort of spectrum, and most hope to experience something as close to the real thing as possible. In Giovanni’s Room, Baldwin says that intimacy is not a spectrum, but rather a distinct choice; we either experience intimacy or we don’t. He demonstrates that this discovery of true intimacy requires a radical commitment to one individual or lifestyle and an elimination of all other options, symbolized by the crossing of a border.

Through David’s characterization of intimacy, particularly with men, as a “deep cavern” and “pit,” Baldwin shows that one has a profound and definitive choice to be intimate, to either jump in the pit or remain above ground. In the first pages of the novel, David recounts his first confrontation with intimacy during his encounter with Joey. When the sun rises the morning after the two sleep together, Baldwin illustrates David’s panic at the choice that lies before him on page 9.

"A cavern opened in my mind, black, full of rumor. Suggestion, of half-heard, half-forgotten stories, full of dirty words. I thought I saw my future in that cavern. I was afraid. [...] And I made my decision. I got out of bed and took a shower and was...