i've been having this argument with a couple of friends at the moment...
john barton's suicide was mainly because of his depression at feeling inadequate compared to his father, but i'm pretty sure he was a repressed homosexual too, and i have this memory that it was strongly hinted at in the film. if anyone can shed some light on the matter i'd be grateful.
i really really don't think he was gay..
especially not how he was described in the book anyway..
i don't think it was hinted in the movie but anyway thats just my opinon lol
-Fifty years from now,don't you want to be able to say you had the guts to get in the car?-
John Barton is a strong contrast to Jacob. Whereas Jacob does typically masculine things such as riding a motorbike, John prefers debating and studying (partly because of his father). It's easy to see how you could mistake him as gay, especially as Matthew Newton (who, as you know, played John) has quite delicate features. However, he's not gay. In the book, we find out that he was strongly attracted to Josie and in the movie, John admits that he wanted to dance with Josie but never got the chance. Hope that answers your question.
I can't live with or without you...
I just watched the movie last night and I began to wonder; his suicide note read:
If I could be anything but what I am, I would be tomorrow. If I could be what my father wants me to be, then maybe I could stay for that, too. If I could be what you want me to be, I'd want to stay. But I am what I am, and all I want is freedom.
"If I could be anything but what I am, I would be tomorrow." and "If I could be what you want me to be, I'd want to stay. But I am what I am, and all I want is freedom." screamed repressed gay for me.
You think you have won,
You think all is well,
But kiss my green ass,
I shall see you in hell!
"If I could be what you want me to be, I'd want to stay. But I am what I am, and all I want is freedom."
yeah that's the line I was thinking of all right!!
that and the fact he showed no interest in josie at the formal, he seemed to be kind of aloof to her the entire film as well, she was a fairly decent looker too. Being the gay son of a conservative politician wouldn't be easy, so he killed himself. Poor josie lots of tears etc etc.
Have you only watched the movie?
I can't understand how you thought he was gay, but maybe Its just the book for me that determines that he isnt.
he is not gay. period. josie wanted him to be a lawyer or a stronger person who could speak to his dad and convince him he does not want to be a politician. Being gay has nothing to do with it at all. even the interviews with the author, she never mentioned it, and specifically states his suicide was to do with depression and the pressure of life caused by his dad.
sharehe's not gay. read the book. he really isnt, he's just depressed and and pressured his whole life.
sharehe isn't gay. his problems are similar to gay folk who don't want to be because they have to fit into moulds they really dont want to, but there isn't anything that suggests specifically that its (even in part) his repressed homosexuality causing him depression.
"I really should stop getting my qoutes from Fight Club" - Jack's Lack of Imagination
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he was gay. totally. it was just a surprise that was mentioned in the note towards the end.
shareNo, he wasn't gay. You obviously missed the point of the film and novel.
shareI was going to ask, the same thing, maybe not in the book, but the movie seemed to hint at it, remember they changed some things in the movie, weren't they older on the movie than the book? Maybe they change John to be gay too, my theory Is John wasn't actually interested in Josies cousin, he paid him out in the football in the way a girl pays out a guy she likes. The cousin looked way sadder than anyone at the funeral, including Josies, I reckon there was a secret love between John and the cousin, I think he saw Jose as a beard, totally friendzoned her.
"Lifes a bitch then you die"
Ben Foster is my Dream husband
Ryan Gosling is my Dream Lover
Whereas Jacob does typically masculine things such as riding a motorbike, John prefers debating and studying (partly because of his father). It's easy to see how you could mistake him as gay, especially as Matthew Newton (who, as you know, played John) has quite delicate features.