Historical Context

Growing Up in the Depression

Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” takes place in the South during the Depression. Though a larger historical framework is not apparent in the story, the traditions of the era are well represented by Buddy’s adventures with his cousin. Living in a house with many relatives was common in times of great poverty, and Buddy was most likely there because his parents’ economic situation prevented them from providing him with a stable life. In addition, the activities he pursues with his cousin — baking fruitcakes, cutting down a tree in the woods, making homemade decorations and Christmas presents together — not only evoke a nostalgia for a simpler time but also represent common amusements in a rural community when money was scarce. One of Buddy’s favorite pastimes is going to the movies, which costs only a dime. During the Depression, millions attended the country’s elaborate movie palaces every week; it was the cheapest, most common form of entertainment in a world not yet captivated by radio and television. That Buddy’s cousin has never been to a movie herself may not seem so strange when one considers that she grew up in an era before the film industry had captured the public’s attention.

An Intolerant Era

Less apparent in the writing of “A Christmas Memory” are the cultural attitudes that fostered what Thomas Dukes has called “the quintessential homosexual writing style” of the 1950s. In an era of considerable sexual repression, addressing homosexual themes overtly in literature was uncommon. Instead, authors, especially Capote, created situations in a type of “code” that were often interpreted in a homosexual context. One aspect of this “code” in Capote’s story is the sensitivity of the central male character, particularly his preference for emphasizing his feelings and emotions over action. Another aspect of this “code” is the emphasis on female characters and domestic concerns. Note also the joke that Mr. Haha Jones makes when he asks Buddy and his cousin, “Which of you is a drinking man?” That Haha finds this funny suggests that he equates Buddy’s gender identity more with his female friend rather than with his status as a young male. Outside of his writing, Capote defined himself as homosexual in the often homophobic culture of the 1950s and 1960s through the way in which he chose to be photographed and the effeminate manner he assumed during television interviews.