Hall's Model of ‘God’ as It Relates to ‘Inversion’ (now known as 'Queerness') in ‘The Well of Loneliness’. Daisy van der Post College

Upon its release in 1928, ‘The Well of Loneliness’ garnered mixed critical attention. Early reception was largely positive, but a vehemently worded article in the Sunday Express, coupled with a pious home-secretary, lead to the novel’s ban (Doan 1-30). Both Hall and her loudest detractor (James Douglass) were deeply religious people, as were many critics who praised and condemned the book in turn. The fact that people who hold similar religious beliefs can find this novel both sacrilegious and virtuous is a testament to how sexuality and religion have been perceived as influencing and contradicting one another. Moreover, it is a testament to the expanse of attitudes towards God and ‘inversion’ woven into the fabric of the novel, oftentimes to incongruous effect.

The comparison of Stephen to Cain encapsulates the various alternate perspectives on ‘God’ explored by Hall. The first use of the ‘Mark of Cain’ metaphor happens after Stephen’s mother has discovered that Stephen is an ‘invert’ and has thrown her out of the house. Stephen learns that her father knew about her desires but didn’t tell anyone and she opens his bible for comfort:

‘Oh, Father – and there are so many of us – thousands of miserable, unwanted people, who have...