Christianity In The 1950s

As everyone knows, the 1950s is a decade when America is possessed by the glorious period of religion, especially the Christianity. Basically, the principle and concept of Christianity are focused on the love of human life, particularly love and relationship between male and female. Thus, in the intense period of glorious religion, the homosexuality is a prohibition which cannot be expressed through the eyes of the world not only because of the abnormality in the society, but in the religious beliefs as well. Therese, the homosexual protagonist, is the person who is possessed by the concept of Christianity not only as the citizen of America, but as the student in the semi-religious school, Episcopalian as well. Certainly, even if she is not
the student in the school anymore, but she is pursued by the concept of Christianity through the person that she knows and the thing that she have. However, after meeting Carol, another homosexual protagonist, the concept and idea of Christianity which once she is given from the school and Sister Alicia are shaken by Carol. It can be seen that Therese is chased by the concept of Christianity through the example as follows:
Therese had kept the green gloves at the bottom of her tin locker at school, for years after Sister Alicia had gone away to California.
The white tissue had become limp and crackle-less like ancient cloth, and still she had not worn the gloves. Finally, they were too small to wear.
(Carol. 1952: 14)
Therese did not tell her that the school was semi-religious, Episcopalian. She did not mention Sister Alicia whom she adored and thought of so often… Sister Alicia had been thrust far away, far below the woman who sat opposite her.
(Carol. 1952: 49)
From the example, it can be interpreted that Sister Alicia represents as the representative of religion who is embedded in the thought of Therese for a very long time of her life. Likewise, the green gloves that Sister Alicia gives to her represents as a concept and idea of Christianity which is given to Therese as well. In bible, it can be stated that green is the color which symbolizes as the fertility that always appears in the context of nature. Besides, the term of fertility is not only represented as the sense of fruitfulness in the nature, but it also can be stated as the ability of women to give birth to the child. It means that the green gloves can be implied as the concept of Christianity which relates to the way of God that guides Therese to the heterosexual
bond.
Thus, it can be seen that Therese does not absorb the concept of Christianity which is focused on the relationship of male and female and it can no longer reach to her thought anymore through the message, “…and still she had not worn the gloves.
Finally, they were too small to wear.” Moreover, the importance of religion also cannot go through Therese's mind after she encounters with Carol who changes her life forever, from the text, “Sister Alicia had been thrust far away, far below the woman who sat opposite her.” So, it is obviously to state that the sexual identity of Therese is hidden by the concepts of Christianity which against the homosexual relationships through the symbolism such as green gloves and Sister
Alicia.
At the end of the story, after Therese realizes her own sexual identity, it is clearly to see that she wants to liberate herself from the concept of gender ideology in the religious beliefs, especially the idea of Christianity. Thus, the narration in the story below is the best example to express that Therese is no longer dominated by the concepts of Christianity which is focused on the heterosexual relationship more than homosexual relationship.
She thought suddenly of the green woolen gloves that Sister Alicia had given her. Were they still in the ancient tissue at the bottom of her trunk? She wanted to throw them away.
(Carol. 1952: 278)
As it is mentioned above that the green gloves represent as the concept about the heterosexual bond of Christianity that Sister Alicia gives it to Therese. It can be interpreted from the example that after Therese discovers herself and the love that she has for Carol, the concept of Christianity which is only focused on the heterosexual bond cannot reach to the identity of Therese anymore through the message, “She wanted to throw them away.” It is explicitly showed that it is not only just because Therese does not want to keep the green gloves of Sister Alicia, but she does not want to absorb the concept of Christianity that conceals her sexual identity as well.