The closet

Paul speaks of the closet as if it were a real place, a place where he remained for much of his life. Paul continues to refer to the closet throughout his story, describing it as a place that is dark and lonely and he remains there because of his secret. In the introduction to his book, Paul explains that those who are reading his words and are still in the closet will not fully understand his meaning. He explains that being in the closet is painful and that this pain that cannot go away until one is able to leave the closet completely. Paul struggles with his homosexual identity and the pain that he associates with being in the closet throughout his childhood and into his adult life. He attempts to deny his sexuality and convince himself that he is truly straight. Paul compares life in...