Sexuality Under a Textual Lens in Casey McQuiston's "Red, White & Royal Blue"

Abstract

This study investigated how sexuality is shown in Casey McQuiston's novel Red, White and Royal Blue. It focuses on the main characters and their stories of self-discovery, dealing with societal pressures, and finding personal acceptance. Using a qualitative discourse method, the research examined four aspects: the story, the characters, how sexuality is represented, and how the novel challenges traditional ideas in literature. The study finds that Alex Claremont-Diaz’s journey of bisexuality is about growing self-awareness and facing societal expectations. Prince Henry, as a gay man, shows the conflict between his true self and his duties as royalty. Both characters show that sexuality is fluid and not limited to strict labels. This connects to ideas from thinkers such as Foucault, Butler, and Sedgwick who explore topics like how society talks about sexuality, how gender and sexuality are performed, and the idea of living openly versus hiding one’s identity. The novel uses its storytelling to question the assumption that heterosexuality is the norm and brings attention to LGBTQ+ experiences and promoting acceptance. Red, White and Royal Blue stresses embracing diverse sexual identities in modern literature. This study adds to conversations about how fiction can influence how society views gender, sexuality, and equality.