“A Marriage Below Zero” Showcases Life for LGBTQ+ Population Over a Century Ago
“A Marriage Below Zero,” written in 1889 by Allen Dale, is a novel described by many different genres: tragedy, comedy, romance. It is told from the perspective of Elsie Bouverie who gradually discovers that her husband, Arthur Ravener, is involved in a romantic relationship with another man (his close “friend,” Captain Dillington). In London during the late 19th century, where the majority of the novel is based, homosexuality or “buggery” was a criminal act.
The choice to tell the story from Bouverie’s angle rather than from the perspective of her husband, who faced homosexual prejudice, was fascinating. It’s impossible not to wonder how the story would’ve been told from his point of view, as Bouverie was self-centered and worried about her image when she found out about Ravener’s affair with Dillington. The story might have felt more personal and raw if it was told from the standpoint of the oppressed.
However, it could be argued that Bouverie was oppressed as well, just for different reasons: she was a woman in the late 19th century. She was loud, opinionated, and didn’t care much for ballroom dancing, which was frowned upon by most men. Ravener took a liking to her because their relationship wasn’t about physical intimacy, they both wanted intimate conversation rather.
It seems like it was a dream come true for Ravener, he found a woman to cover up his truth and to help him avoid the judgemental eye of society, and he didn’t have to bare himself to her. This started out ideal for Bouverie - an intellectual connection as opposed to lust - but her idea of the relationship quickly changed when she realized her husband wasn’t just less interested in copulation than other men, but that he didn’t want it at all with her.
It’s frankly disappointing that in order for a man to love another man at this time, he had to pretend to be someone he wasn’t and cause collateral damage along the way. Sneaking out of windows and attending fake business meetings was all Ravener's life consisted of once he got married and, as a person, he deserved more freedom than that. Bouverie deserved honesty from Ravener, as well as the opportunity to find a man who appreciated good conversation as well as heterosexual love. Both characters in the novel deserved a chance to live wholly, separate from each other, but the plot refusing that helped the story stay true to the time period.
When Bouverie found Dillington and Ravener in an apartment being intimate with each other, she didn’t address the issue with her husband. Instead, she internalized it, decided he needed to “heal” from his “thoughts”, and booked them a trip to New York City. What Bouverie didn’t know was that Dilligton followed them, and stayed in a nearby hotel waiting for Ravener.
After Ravener found Dillington in NYC, they ran away together. Ravener left a note for Bouverie and that was the last she heard of him. To leave a marriage in such a passive way appears harsh, but, considering the circumstances, it could be argued that he simply did what was best for him.
Years later, the men were then caught by police while hiding out in Paris, France. Dilligton was arrested for counts of buggery. He was in the newspaper and word about his affair travelled quickly through cities, eventually all the way back to Bouverie. She decided that she knew exactly who else was involved in this scandal and wanted to go see him for herself.
Having his lover arrested was too angering and depressing for Ravener, so he committed suicide after a fit of rage and damaging his hotel room. Bouverie was the one to find him. She saw lifeless eyes in a person whom she used to adore deeply.
To have the novel end in tragedy was difficult to read absent tears. Unfortunately, it was a realistic ending. Thousands of people commit suicide to this day because they are ashamed or denied their love. “A Marriage Below Zero” was a beautiful representation of what homosexual love looked like in history and it’s important that the book stays relevant to understand what is at stake if freedom to love is not honored.
