The Zoo Story Sexuality and Sexual Identity Quotes

Jerry is very interested in whether Peter has a wife and how that relates to his daughters. His interest seems bewildering (to Peter and the audience). But it makes more sense if Jerry is cruising. He's trying to figure out if Peter is available—and he's disappointed that he isn't.

Every man doesn't want a son, necessarily. The fact that Peter does is a signal in the play that he's uncertain, or nervous, about his masculinity.

The Village in New York is a neighborhood filled with artists. But it's also a neighborhood known for its homosexual community. So Peter could be suddenly fitting Jerry into a box marked "artist/bohemian," but he could also be fitting him into a box marked "homosexual." But then of course Jerry isn't really from the Village, so all that box-putting is for nothing. That's what you get for carrying all those boxes around, Peter.