Rubyfruit Jungle and Leroy

As I finished this wonderful novel, I pondered over which character I should focus on as I write my thoughts. There were so many interesting, unique characters with unique struggles I found deeply moving. I thought about Carl, and his difficulty with possible polyamory. I remembered Carrie, who put herself through hell for the sake of security and happiness, never finding either. I thought about Leota who clearly enjoyed kissing girls, but shoved those thoughts out of her mind in order to fit in with patriarchal society. I thought about Molly, who only ever wanted to be who she was, but was denied her own agency at every possible turn. While all of these characters and struggles deeply moved me, and have left me thinking through sleepless nights, I have decided to focus on Leroy’s struggles with masculinity and societal pressure. 

Ever since Leroy was a child, he’s been cowardly and afraid of judgment. After the death of his mother Jennifer, it was implied that the passion had disappeared from his home. Living in a home primarily filled with men, empathy had been replaced with toughness. The start of this change is seen when Molly spots Leroy’s father crying on his brother-in law’s shoulder Carl. “Maybe all men did that after everyone went to bed so no one would know the toughness was for show” (Brown p.24).

This quote becomes a major point for Leroy, because just like his father Ep doesn’t want anyone to know he cries, Leroy becomes overly self aware of what others think of him. Now that his mother is gone, this has laid the groundwork for the masculine roles Leroy feels he must fit into during later chapters. 

Leroy has always turned to Molly to try and find his sense of self. I think it’s clear that in some ways, he wanted to be Molly. He wanted to have her courage, and her drive to be authentically herself, but he’s too afraid of what people will say about him. After Molly, Carrie, and Carl leave for Florida, Leroy becomes truly left alone. The only person he feels he can truly confide in, is Molly. “Besides, I’m a chicken and you’re not. You really would go around on a candy apple red Triumph and give people the finger when they stared at you. I don’t want people down on me” (Brown p.57). 

When Leroy visits Molly and her family, he’s picked up on the societal pressures and roles he is supposed to fit into. He worries that he might be queer because he was having oral sex with an older man named Craig. His first thought about the subject is that “Damn, the old man finds out, Ted, they’ll kill me for sure” (Brown p.58). He confides in Molly because “You’re the only one in the world I can tell because I think maybe you’re queer too” (Brown p.58). His biggest fear is that he might love Craig, because then he would truly be an outsider to his community. But this is another showcase of how Molly and Leroy are different. Later during this conversation, Molly says “You are for sure getting yourself screwed on rules other people make” (Brown p.63).

Until adulthood, this is the virtual end of Leroy and Molly’s relationship. She remarks on how Leroy and her had little in common anyway, and stated that she “Sometimes felt sorry for Leroy. He followed the herd, like any dumb beast, vaguely realizing he was unhappy” (Brown p.77). But Leroy is so afraid of being judged in society, by his peers, his brother, his father, that he forces himself to fit into the masculine mold carved out for him. Dismissing his own feelings about his life, to please his peers. 

When Molly returns to Florida to see her mother Carrie, she also meets up with Leroy who now has a wife named Joyce and two children. Joyce fits into the feminine role perfectly from her singular appearance. With teased hair and heavy makeup, her clothing is not described, but is implied she is wearing a dress or skirt by the way she continues to gawk at Molly’s pants. 

After Leroy and Molly are left alone, we learn that while Molly was away, Leroy was growing up to fit into the mold. He joined the Marine Corps and fought in Vietnam, before returning home and finding a job as a mechanic to support his family. Eventually, the conversation turns to Molly and her lesbianism. Leroy remarks “It’s just as well. You ain’t the kind to settle down. You always said that but I didn’t listen to you” (Brown p. 209). Leroy confesses “It gets boring, you know? I think some days I’m gonna walk off the job and go down to Bahia Mar and get me a job as a crew member on a fat private yacht and sail around the world. Maybe someday I’ll do that” (Brown p. 209). 

This final line from Leroy cements the idea that Molly has always carried with her. Forcing yourself to fit in with society does not guarantee you will be happy. Leroy was too afraid to be his authentic self, was he straight after all? Was he gay? Was he bisexual? We’ll never know the answer to these questions, because Leroy refused the path of self discovery in favor of fitting in amongst his peers. It is strongly hinted from his final line, this may be a regret he carries with him for the rest of his life. However, despite Leroy’s unhappiness, we know the road to self discovery is not all paved with gold and glitter. Homosexuals were heavily ostracized during this time period and even still today, but there are smaller groups and communities you can join to find your people. The novel ends with the reflection of Molly, which I feel applies to Leroy as well. As she realizes how ahead of her time she is, she thinks “Damn, I wished the world would let me be myself” (Brown p.220).  Brown, Rita Mae. Rubyfruit Jungle: A Novel. Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.