I know this is a cliché answer, but there are so many claims I could make about this text. But the one I want to focus is the nature of Joe and Louis’s relationship. Even though Louis is obviously the bigger asshole in lots of ways (i.e. leaving Prior when he is literally dying and saying everything to Belize during the democracy monologue in Act 3 Scene 2 (97-100)), I am going to argue that Joe is not that great of a person as well. First of all, it seems like Joe and Harper got married just because they had to and not because they initially loved each other. The nickname ‘buddy’ kind of alludes to this because it makes it seem like they are more friends than lovers or partners (18). Secondly, Joe is not forcing Harper to get help for her Valium; he honestly seems to shut down about it i.e. when they are arguing and he asks how many pills she has taken: “I won’t talk to you when you-” (36). This is not dissimilar to Louis shutting down Prior’s sickness.
Even though these passages above do offer insight on Joe, the main scene that solidified this claim for me was Act 3 Scene 4 in Perestroika. They are talking on the beach in Brooklyn and Louis is trying to grapple with the severity of their actions together: cheating, abandoning their partners, exploring sexuality etc. But Joe just wants to initiate sex with Louis when he is attempting a mature conversation (202). Even more so, Joe is just plainly ignoring his identity as a Republican and a Mormon (203). In my opinion, Joe’s thought process consists of the reasoning of since he is in a sexual relationship with Louis, his entire past cannot have an impact because it is entirely separate. The fact that Louis acknowledges that in this scene and Joe doesn’t is pretty telling.
Even though this statement was kind of tangential, I want to make it clear that I do have more sympathy for Joe than I do for Lewis. No one should have to deal with the internal conflict that comes with this brand of self-discovery. However, Joe needs to do serious internal work in order to come with terms with his religious affiliation, his relationship with his wife and not distract from his problems with sex.
THIS!! The fact that it was basically confirmed by Louis later on in the book that Joe is a horrible person because he has been actively pushing anti-gay legislations and thoughts into the court room and to other lawyers as well as writing pieces for judge’s ruling on gay rights. Yes, he is still exploring his identity and has only recently come to terms with being gay but that does not excuse the fact that he has felt this way secretly for some and has blatantly looked a blind eye towards his own rights and those of his community. I fully believe that the fact that he was friends with Roy Cohn was no accident and he has blinded us with his perceived kindness through his Mormonism.