@ les mis fandom why are you all so insistent on erasing what is arguably Grantaire’s canonical bisexuality? The dude likes girls. He’s also got the mega angsty hots for Enjolras. Everytime I see a headcanon or post where he’s described as gay I’m like??? But??? He talked very clearly about liking ladies??? Why do you have to erase his bisexuality? Him having had a Thing with Floreal for example doesn’t somehow undermine his love for Enjolras? Generally I say headcanon however you like but given it’s practically canon it seems less like ‘this is my interpretation of him!’ And more just. Shady bi erasure. >
Chill, fandom. Let R be bi.
Yes, but I think that the same point could be made for “erasing” Grantaire’s arguably canonical heterosexuality. (I, personally, don’t think either can be erased, because nothing ficwriters do could ever change canon, so even in cases a character is stated to be something or other in canon, they can be written literally opposite in a fanwork, and it still won’t be erasure, because it doesn’t affect canon in any way.)
As for Grantaire, I think the case slightly more complicated – he is described as having no understanding of what his feelings for Enjolras are. Like, he can’t even wrap his head around the concept of him being attracted to a man, in any way. But he is also a libertine, which might indicated that he’s been around to some lovely parties where everyone sleep with eachother, and he arguably knows that same-sex attraction and action exist. It’s just that he couldn’t even imagine it applying to him.
But then, Grantaire is no master in self-awareness and reflection – he doesn’t think he can be attracted to men, but he’s drawn to Enjolras, for his character, and perhaps for his beauty also.
It’s been 3 years, and I’m still on the fence about Grantaire – either he is straight, but confused, or he is gay, but repressed and confused. Either way, Grantaire being confused is my only fixed opinion about him.
‘Either straight but confused or gay and confused’ ??? Or just. Bi? No offence but the ‘either straight or gay’ mentality doesn’t sit well with me and is exactly what I’m talking about here. Bisexuality is an option here you know? He could like women and men (and I never see him imply otherwise in canon – I don’t see where your ‘cannot possibly wrap his head around being attracted to a man in any way!’ Thing comes from. He seems pretty accepting of his feelings towards Enjolras; it shows in how he’s always described as talking to him ‘tenderly’ and ‘sweetly’. He’s regularly compared to figures with questionable sexualities. He’s literally introduced as in love with Enjolras and all that he is. That doesn’t strike me as a man repressed. Also the idea that a 19th century Parisian artist is unaware of same gender attraction even existing is pretty amusing to me)
Grantaire is arguably one of the only characters in the brick who can almost canonically be discerned as LGBTQ. And one of the only characters who has canonical evidence hinting towards bisexuality. To reduce him to straight or gay without ever exploring this is insulting.
Regardless of your in depth analysis though you’ve sort of missed my point entirely. This post is aimed at a very specific part of fandom who like to erase all the evidence that Grantaire has ever had any interest in women and make him gay due to biphobia and some weird fandom notion that bisexuality will get in the way of their ships. This wasn’t a discussion about Grantaire’s sexuality; it is about erasure of bisexuality in fandom, as an act of biphobia (whether conscious or not) – not about erasing this particular character’s sexuality. Grantaire is my example here because there is very obvious evidence for him being attracted to both women and men.
I’d like to add that the idea that Grantaire is either “straight, but confused, or he is gay, but repressed and confused” (as you say) is also a form of bi-erasure.
’s theory that he doesn’t understand his feelings for Enjolras, it’s only more likely he’s bi. What makes gay people question whether they are gay? Attraction to the opposite gender. A man in the 19th century won’t have access to labels like bisexual, gay and straight, not to mention all the other labels, so he’ll be more likely to think it’s hella weird that he likes men and women. If Enjolras is the first man he’s ever been in love with, he would be slightly confused.
Our poor, confused, possibly bi little bab.
(that is to say, the OP should also keep in mind that just because R likes two genders doesn’t mean he’s bi. Pan-erasure is also a thing. There are so many labels modern!Grantaire could pick. Gay or straight just aren’t the most recommended when you look at canon)
today I was looking through some word definitions for a class (like a good English major) and I discovered something really interesting (and by interesting I mean the kind of discovery that makes you sit with your head in your hands for a little while)
(also maybe a ton of people already know this and I’m freaking out for nothing but we’ll just hope that’s not the case)
anyway. the word I was researching was grant
and I looked at the word’s origin, because that’s something my professor encourages us to do and it helps uncover meanings that maybe we wouldn’t immediately recognize
and this is what I found:
1175-1225; Middle English gra (u) nten < Old French graunter, variant ofcrëanter < Vulgar Latin *credentāre, verbal derivative of Latin crēdent-,stem of crēdēns, present participle of crēdere to believe
take a look at that last part. to believe. the word grant comes from the Latin verb which means “to believe”
so. grant is part of the name Grantaire.
it comes from the verb meaning “to believe”
Grantaire means “to believe”
Grantaire. the man who took good care not to believe in anything. his name means “to believe”
GRANTAIRE MEANS “TO BELIEVE”
GRANTAIRE MEANS “TO BELIEVE”
and I have a feeling no one needs me to tell them in what (or who) Grantaire believes
“When two mouths, rendered sacred by love, approach to create, it is impossible that there should not be, above that ineffable kiss, a quivering throughout the immense mystery of stars. These felicities are the true ones. There is no joy outside of these joys. Love is the only ecstasy.”
what grantaire defines as love from his own experience:
“I know just what it is like. Ecstasies in which they forget to kiss. Pure on earth, but joined in heaven. They are souls possessed of senses. They lie among the stars.”
Grantaire: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Enjolras: Uh sure, I guess.
Grantaire: Thou art hot as fuck.
¯_( ಠ_ಠ)_/¯ 