Reshaping Womanhood: Lesbian Realities in The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall

Abstract

The Well of Loneliness (1928) by Radclyffe Hall changed British perceptions of gender identity and performance in its plea for the respect of lesbian identities. While previous studies have centered on the protagonist‘s nonconformity and lesbianism, this paper will also examine how the novel‘s controversy and the author‘s personal ties to the subject ultimately brought more fame to what is now considered the original lesbian book. This essay will not only analyse evolving historic views on homosexuality and cross-dressing, but also assess how homophobia shaped the author‘s work By considering this Bildungsroman‘s fluctuating concepts of gender identity and gender roles, its contributions to the limited corpus of 20th century lesbian literature, and its protagonist‘s development and relationships, this essay will highlight the significance of Hall‘s work both for her era and for contemporary queer studies.