SiHunt Member
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#39 · Posted: 21 Sep 2006 14:47
If one were to argue that Tintin was gay, the proof would be in what is not seen or said. People have always concluded that Tintin is not gay or asexual because he isn't seen to have relationships or crushes; but we don't draw the conclusion that he doesn't ever wee just because we don't see it in a book. Within the realism of the books, we assume that he possesses such bodily functions, but that they arn't seen. Or else we have a hero who can drink, but not pass water and therefore has an abnormal, perhaps alien physiology. If your answer is "we don't see it, therefore it doesn't happen" then you are fielding an invalid argument, as we don't see him wee either yet this has to happen for the character to make sense.
Otherwise, it's as valid to discuss Tintin's sexuality as his toiletry habits, and just as never seeing him wee is not likely proof he never does it, never having seen him romance another individual is very flawed proof that he is asexual.
Tintin is a young man, by all respects, and you would therefore expect him to have sexual urges or desires, albeit perhaps mild ones (his life is very full and fulfilled with travelling and solving crimes). Therefore the fact that we see no evidence of heterosexual desires is further evidence that he is either gay or asexual. In the world in which Tintin lives, it is likely that no sexual opinion at all would suggest closetted urges.
So he might be gay. It doesn't really have any bearing on anything, except to note that if he is, then the world in which he lives doesn't allow him to express it. His relationship with Haddock doesn't suggest any intimate involvement (just because he's gay doesn't mean he must be seeing the most likely male friend, even if he does live with him). It would be tempting to suggest Chang, and Tintin does clearly love his friend but... I don't know, something tells me Chang is just a friend. Apart from anything, he seems in the books to be a boy, and far too young for Tintin. That's what prompts me to think the concern is love for a friend, not a lover. If it wern't, then perhaps I might consider it. Tintin frets over Chang in "Tibet" in a way far beyond any friendship. How old is Chang supposed to be?
Si.
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