Eli Clare uses a metaphorical mountain as a representation of the goals and obstacles one meets throughout their life, finding their ultimate success at the top of this mountain. This mountain, however, is made up of what is deemed true “success” or “wealth” by a capitalist, patriarchal, hereronormative, ableist society. In this section, Clare writes “Our wheelchairs get stuck. We speak the wrong languages with the wrong accents, wear the wrong clothes, carry our bodies the wrong ways, ask the wrong questions, love the wrong people” (Clare, 1). These different aspects of identity affect how far we can move up the mountain because it depends on what is considered “desirable” by this society.
I also imagine or interpret this metaphor as a balance scale, similar to the “Sex Hierarchy” or “Charmed Circle” models that demonstrates how society categorizes or ranks sexual behaviors. I imagine this scale with one side holding the “mountain” and the other side with a person. It begins with both sides being balanced, until slowly aspects of our identity with different weights applied to each based on how “good” they are are added on. It is difficult to move up the mountain or maintain balance on the scale because these aspects of our identities that “bring us down” don’t fit into a society that values capitalism, patriarchy, heteronormativity, and ableism. Thus, the gap is widened between who or what is deemed “normal” and the “other” or “exiled”.
The metaphor of the mountain connects to the theme of class because aspects of our identities and how they intersect with each other impact our place on the mountain. My interpretation of the mountain as a scale further emphasizes the identities society perceives as desirable and the ones that are disregarded. However, my interpretation of the mountain as a scale also tells us that maybe we don’t need or even want to be on this mountain or balance this scale. Maybe we learn that we can each create our own mountain or scale that is made up of all these aspects of our identities that make up our personal obstacles, goals, and dreams. And at the top of the mountain, or the perfect balance of this scale, is us accepting and loving ourselves for who we really are.
I really liked the interpretation of the mountain as more of a scale rather than an obstacle itself. Something about the latter interpretation never sat right with me. Clare introduces the mountain metaphor with the use of a physical mountain he attempted to actually climb, but Clare never expresses anger or resentment towards the actual mountain. It seemed, to me, that Clare was disliked the idea that he had to climb the mountain or be seen as less than an able-bodied person. So I really like the idea that the mountain is a scale, a metaphor for societal expectations, and one Clare has no interest in balancing.
I think the idea of the mountain being a scale is really interesting, and something that I never thought of. The idea of queerness or being different weighing you down in a heterosexist society as you try to achieve balance on a scale is very fascinating to me because sometimes being different can feel like a burden being placed on your shoulders. That metaphor is literally a burden that weighs you down, and upsets the balance.