Identity
This element may be divided in three main subcategories: gender identity, cultural identity and racial identity. They are all developed under the main "umbrella term" of identity, but also develop in their own specificity during the narration.[2] It explores dualities such as male/female, Black/white, and famous/non-famous. Joss's experiences are shaped by his transgender identity and his identity as a Black Scottish man. Coleman, for his part, not only grapples with his Black and Scottish identities, but also with his complex self-identity due to being adopted. The theme of identity is particularly explored through the novel's focus on names, and the changing of names, as an integral part of one's identity.
- Gender identity: the unravelling of these categories is among the novel's most highlighted themes, meaning that it is the first necessary step to develop and build an identity for many of the characters. As well as Joss, this also applies to other characters such as Millie, who never regards herself as a lesbian since she always sees Joss as a man, whereas society and other characters do not. After what appears to be a fight for the right to not conform to gender-assigned roles, after Joss's death, he is forced back into a categorised role delegated by a binary and heteronormative society.[3]
- Cultural identity: the novel's principal setting is in Scotland in the mid-20th century, with the storyline spanning from 1927 till 1997, a period of significant change. Scotland is presented as a fundamentally traditional, orthodox, conservative country where the question of identity is not even asked.[4] Many references to the patriarchal culture are seen throughout the narration, as well as in the actions of the characters (i.e., improper use of the "she/her" pronouns by the journalist when referring to Joss; Coleman's sexual desire in order to maintain, or define, his own masculinity, virility and manhood).
- Race identity: Race is also an important component in the identity of the characters. Joss is a Black man, a son of the Scottish nation, but lives in a country which hardly recognizes his social status as minority.[5] There is a parallel here with author Jackie Kay, who also grew up in Scotland and was Scottish through her mother and Nigerian through her father. Her life and that of one of the main characters (Joss) both are a mixture of backgrounds, and similarities can emerge between the two personalities. Living in Scotland she belonged to a true minority group of British Blacks, since, according to National Statistics publication for Scotland, only 1% of the Scottish population belongs to African, Caribbean or Black ethnic groups.[6]
The "manhood" question in Coleman
Coleman is angry at Joss because his father had a female body. In Coleman's view, Joss is not following the gender role imposed by the patriarchal society, that he (Coleman) conforms to, as seen in the scene where Coleman wants to have anal sex with the journalist to impose control on her, as an expression of the culture of possession, a crucial element in a patriarchal system. Coleman marginalizes his father despite knowing himself how it feels to be marginalized, especially in a European context where there are significant challenges associated with being Black. Coleman feels that his male identity is being questioned after his father's death because he loses a sense of attachment to the safety and assurance from the patriarchal culture and system. In this sense Coleman categorizes people in the same way that he is marginalized by others.[7]
Sex
The novel appears to depict sex in two different ways: the first between Millie and Joss, described in the book's very first pages where it is evident that Joss was assigned a female gender at birth. Millie and Joss enjoy a genuine, lovely, naive relationship. The second depiction is the form of sex used by Coleman as a tool of revenge. Coleman's relationship with sex appears affected by the trauma of discovering that his father had female genitalia, but may also be linked to the possessive nature of the patriarchal system.
Music, role of jazz and the trumpet
Jazz music, and music's role in general in Black culture, is a form of expression through which Joss demonstrates his identity through an undeniable ability to play music. Music comes to be a liberating practice.[8] Every individual character seems to be an instrument and a part of a musical narration where the union of the characters becomes an orchestra. Jazz's role in this novel shows a sharp contrast to other dominant themes. Amidst a strong duality of themes (notably male and female, Black and white) jazz on the other hand offers freedom and detachment from social norms and constrictions. Appreciating Joss's ability to find comfort in his music, and of course the symbolism in the trumpet he played (which has a phallic shape)[9] music in this novel plays a vital role in liberating the characters from societal norms. It is a consistent, unchanging theme throughout the novel. Even when Joss's gender is revealed, the love of jazz remains, so much so that his friend and partner Big Red defends him even after his death. Joss builds his public identity through music and with an instrument which, casually or not, may remind him of the organ he does not have. Joss found his masculinity in jazz music, whereas Coleman identifies his masculinity in his physique.[10]
Transphobia
Millie's reaction is private when, in their first intimate encounter, she discovers that Joss has the body of a woman. She gets angry but later does not mind. This is not mentioned again in the book. The only transphobic remarks that appear come from people who were not privately linked to Joss, except for their son. The narrative reveals people's reactions to the discovery after Joss' death, shown through their disorientation, disgust or just general transphobic comments. Miss Stones shows this clearly in her refusal to use the "him/his" pronouns from the first time she talks about Joss, denying him legitimate recognition of his identity.[10] Transphobia is shown against Joss and to all those he knew as well, starting with the disregard held for his family and friends' opinions of him, making it all the more difficult for him to be defended when he is not there to do it himself.[9]
Passing
The novel examines a general perception that death is a moment that makes someone more vulnerable and exposed to the critiques from which one cannot defend oneself. Private life becomes public.[10] Joss' identity is discussed and questioned, his body is accurately analyzed, and he cannot defend himself. The only attempt to defend Joss is made by his wife Millie, but at the end the defense appears weak, blurred and almost inconsistent. After his death he is treated as "a Black queer monstrosity that can be met only with derision and turned into spectacle",[7] and the only thing Millie continues to do is refer to him using male pronouns.
Family relationships
Another theme in the novel is familial relationships, especially that between Joss and Colman. After his father's death, Coleman reflects on his childhood and how his relationship with his father has changed over time. There was tension in Joss and Coleman's relationship due to the fact that Coleman was not as successful as his father. Their relationship is noticeably difficult starting from Coleman's adolescence, the time when typical secondary physical characteristics emerge and, in males, the body becomes physically "masculine". This tension increased upon Joss's death and Coleman's discovery that his father was a trans man. At a certain point in the book, coinciding with Coleman's narration of a conspicuous part of his adolescence, Joss was said to develop a sort of envy for Coleman's body, potentially seeing attributes in him that he does not himself possess. However, the narrative is this part is from Coleman's point of view. The novel ends with Coleman reading a letter Joss left for him, which talks about his own father.
Race and gender
The novel also explores issues around race and gender. Both Joss and Coleman provide insights into the experiences of Black people in Britain and Scotland and the prejudices they experience. For instance, Millie's mother initially objects to their marriage on account of Joss's race. Joss not only had to learn how to navigate the world as a biracial Black person, but also as a transgender man. He had to learn how to pass as a man, and went to great lengths to ensure that no one found out he was trans besides Millie. The novel also explores the fluidity of gender perception, as characters frequently describe Joss's face transforming, becoming more feminine upon learning his identity as transgender, despite their previously perceiving him wholly as male.
Public vs. Private
The novel explores issues of fame and the invasion of privacy through the media, resulting in private life turning "horribly public".[2] This clash is illustrated through the paparazzi and media who exploit Millie's grief, forcing her to flee from her home. Colman's interviews with Sophie turn private memories public, and the novel's chapters are titled in the style of media headings and newspaper sections, mirroring the invasion of Joss's privacy and identity for public gaze.
