Gay Authors > Kyle Davis - What's his deal?

NaperVic

May 22 2007, 09:58 AM

Of all the characters in ITFB, Kyle Davis is the most perplexing. What's his deal?

I happened to be re-reading the Prologue of ITFB, and found these exerpts:

QUOTE

Kyle Davis had learned a lot from his fish. Just like the people around him, they each had their own place in their little world, their own personalities, and their own purpose. The little goldfish was his most recent addition to this tank, and already he could tell that the two mollys seemed to be mistaking its gleaming gold scales for flakes of food. And just like always, he did not interfere in the affairs of fish, just as he did not interfere in the affairs of Travis Beltnick, who the little goldfish was reminding him very much of at the moment.

QUOTE

But, to understand why Kyle spent so much time worrying about Travis, and so much time waiting for Travis to help himself, one would have to understand the obstacles that Travis had already overcome and the pain that he’d never managed to let go of.

It's been 15 chapters and I still don't understand why Kyle spends so much time worrying about Travis.
Straight guys aren't usually that caring, nurturing, nosey, etc. I'm mean, Kyle is seriously mothering Travis.

All of Kyle's actions and behaviours scream 'I'm Gay and in love with Travis', but the Kyle's gay theory seemed to go out of the window when Kyle was obviously not turned on when he saw Leo & Ben kissing.

So why does he do it?

Take Care®,

Vic

DavyReader

May 22 2007, 04:09 PM

QUOTE (NaperVic @ May 22 2007, 03:58 PM)

Of all the characters in ITFB, Kyle Davis is the most perplexing. What's his deal?

All of Kyle's actions and behaviours scream 'I'm Gay and in love with Travis', but the Kyle's gay theory seemed to go out of the window when Kyle was obviously not turned on when he saw Leo & Ben kissing.

So why does he do it?

Well, Dom does not necessarily tell the reader if one character is sexually attracted to another, at least in case he is narrating from this character's perspective. If the character does not admit being sexually aroused to himself, Dom will not mention it to the reader either:

QUOTE (DomLuka @ ITFB, Chapter 8)

The cold air bit at the skin on Dennis’s back once he removed his sweater, and from there it seemed like a rush to strip down to his underwear, which regrettably, happened to be a pair of tighty-whities that had a pink stain down the side from his last attempt at doing laundry. He’d never had many issues with his own body image, but that was only because there had never been a reason to, before. Suddenly, though, he was feeling a little self-conscious. He felt different than he had in the old locker rooms at school, but that could have had something to do with the tone lines and apparently used muscles that Travis was built with. Dennis had been like that once, he realized. And, it wasn’t that he wasn’t in shape now. He just felt thinner, and the only muscles in his body that had any definition were the ones he used on a daily basis. Also, it really didn’t help that his thighs were completely white while he was still somewhat tan below his knees from the last summer.

It could be that just like Dennis Kyle does not face up to being infatuated with Travis.

Bardeara

May 22 2007, 10:24 PM

QUOTE ( @ May 22 2007, 10:58 AM)

Kyle Davis had learned a lot from his fish. Just like the people around him, they each had their own place in their little world, their own personalities, and their own purpose. The little goldfish was his most recent addition to this tank, and already he could tell that the two mollys seemed to be mistaking its gleaming gold scales for flakes of food. And just like always, he did not interfere in the affairs of fish, just as he did not interfere in the affairs of Travis Beltnick, who the little goldfish was reminding him very much of at the moment.

You know, I never noticed this before, but it appears that the Prologue of ITFB has a metaphor for the mollys appear to be Owen and Aiden and the Goldfish is Travis.

Lucy Kemnitzer

June 2 2007, 09:46 PM

It is utterly untrue that straight men do not care for and worry about other people they're not sexually attracted to, any more than gay men have to be sexually attracted to someone to care for and worry about them, or women of any description have to be sexually attracted to someone to care for and worry about them.

It's a basic urge of people, whatever their orientation, and quite apart from the basic sexual urges (though all the basic urges can be freely mixed and matched, which is the thing about being human, I think)

NaperVic

June 3 2007, 01:18 AM

QUOTE (Lucy Kemnitzer @ June 2 2007, 07:46 PM)

It is utterly untrue that straight men do not care for and worry about other people they're not sexually attracted to, any more than gay men have to be sexually attracted to someone to care for and worry about them, or women of any description have to be sexually attracted to someone to care for and worry about them.

It's a basic urge of people, whatever their orientation, and quite apart from the basic sexual urges (though all the basic urges can be freely mixed and matched, which is the thing about being human, I think)

I don't disagree with you. Of course straight men care for and worry about other people and not be attracted to them. It's just that Kyle really seems to have taken his caring to an abnormally higher level when it comes to Travis.

Arranging jobs for someone who doesn't want the help is one thing. But opening up his mail and paying nursing home bills for unknown patients? IMHO, that goes a bit beyond 'normal' caring, and the skeptic in me thinks that there is another reason that explains the extent of Kyle's caring.

Maybe Kyle lost a younger brother in the past due to neglect and Travis is his attempt to make up for it. Maybe Kyle served with Allan on a crab fishing boat (ala Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel), and Allan in a freak crab pot accident was injured. On his deathbed, he made Kyle promise to look after his little brother Travis.

Menzoberranzen

June 3 2007, 08:23 AM

QUOTE (NaperVic @ June 3 2007, 03:18 AM)

Maybe Kyle served with Alan on a crab fishing boat (ala Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel), and Alan in a freak crab pot accident was injured.

That was so wonderfully random

Anyway, I agree with you about Kyle's behavior being odd. At first I found it extremely sweet, but now I think Kyle needs to focus more on himself.

Wynter

June 3 2007, 10:41 AM

I agree. Kyle is definitely going to play a more important role in future chapters. The fact that Kyle's past remains so shrouded suggests to me that Kyle will be the spanner that Dom throws into the gears.

KTITE?

AFriendlyFace

June 4 2007, 12:37 AM

QUOTE (Lucy Kemnitzer @ June 2 2007, 09:46 PM)

It is utterly untrue that straight men do not care for and worry about other people they're not sexually attracted to, any more than gay men have to be sexually attracted to someone to care for and worry about them, or women of any description have to be sexually attracted to someone to care for and worry about them.

It's a basic urge of people, whatever their orientation, and quite apart from the basic sexual urges (though all the basic urges can be freely mixed and matched, which is the thing about being human, I think)

Very well said, Lucy!!

QUOTE (NaperVic @ June 3 2007, 01:18 AM)

Maybe Kyle lost a younger brother in the past due to neglect and Travis is his attempt to make up for it. Maybe Kyle served with Allan on a crab fishing boat (ala Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel), and Allan in a freak crab pot accident was injured. On his deathbed, he made Kyle promise to look after his little brother Travis.

Actually I was about to posit that very same theory...well only the part about Kyle viewing Travis in brotherly terms. Personally my own outlandish theory is that Allan came back into town with the intention of looking after Travis. He found Kyle first, and Kyle insisted on a quick game of hockey before he would reveal Travis' location. Allan took a puck to the head, lost his memory, and wandered from town naked whilst humming a Cher song (because what else would one do without one's memory?), and Kyle - feeling guilty - vowed to assume Allan's intended role.

In all seriousness though it seems to me that Kyle just has a case of the "protector syndrom" going. Some people, particularly straight guys, often feel like the only way they can show their affection for someone is to be useful/protective/helpful to that person. I don't think it's particularly uncommon for gay guys to inspire this in straight guys either. I've had more than one straight male friend who proactively went far above and beyond the call of duty to make sure I was okay, and with only one possible exception I'm completely positive there was no sexual attraction there.

-Kevin

NaperVic

June 4 2007, 10:27 PM

QUOTE (AFriendlyFace @ June 3 2007, 10:37 PM)

Actually I was about to posit that very same theory...well only the part about Kyle viewing Travis in brotherly terms.

QUOTE (Domluka ITFB Ch 12)

“Who puts candles in their living room?” Ryan asked thoughtfully, and then, “my mom. That’s the kind of people who have candles... people like moms.”

“I have candles,” Kyle said.

Ryan looked at him. “Well... that’s nice. I’m gonna go change my pants.”