Wilfred Owen’s sexual orientation.

Wilfred Owen was a British poet and soldier who participated in the First World War and captured the horror of the war through his poems. That is why, he is considered the most important war poet of the first half of the 20th century. He has been honored for his work as well as his bravery since his tragic death on November 4th, 1918 — seven days before the war ended. However, there is one aspect of his life that still not clear enough and it has to do with his sexuality. It seems to exist some disagreement between historians who described Owen’s sexual preference as “a non-declared homosexual” or even explained that there is not enough evidence to know it. In addition, Harold Owen, his brother, stated once that he was “a celibate”. Hence, what is the truth in relation with Owen’s sexuality and why is important to know?

On the one hand, there are several facts about Owen’s life that could suggest us that he was homosexual. To begin with, his relationship with Siegfried Sassoon — another British war poet. Owen met Sassoon while he was being treated in Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh after suffering a shell shock during the war. Since then, Sassoon influenced in Owen’s life in all sense, up to the point of considering him a “hero”. Even though, his relationship could be seen as just friends, Sassoon introduced Owen to homosexual circle of friends in London where he met famous gay people of the period (Some of them confirmed Owen’s homosexuality). 

Another important fact is related with his poems. Owen tend to use homoerotism as a main topic of various poems as you can read in “Maundy Thursday”:

Between the brown hands of a server-lad

The silver cross was offered to be kissed.

The men came up, lugubrious, but not sad,

And knelt reluctantly, half-prejudiced.

(And kissing, kissed the emblem of a creed.)

Then mourning women knelt; meek mouths they had,

(And kissed the Body of the Christ indeed.)

Young children came, with eager lips and glad.

(These kissed a silver doll, immensely bright.)

Then I, too, knelt before that acolyte.

Above the crucifix I bent my head:

The Christ was thin, and cold, and very dead:

And yet I bowed, yea, kissed - my lips did cling.

(I kissed the warm live hand that held the thing.)”

Also, letters were sent by Owen to Sassoon as they caught up during war (some letters with a  strong love tone):

[2nd Manchester Regt.]

10 October 1918

Very dear Siegfried, 

          Your letter reached me at the exact moment it was most needed – when we had come far enough out of the line to feel the misery of billets; and I had been seized with writer's cramp after making out my casualty reports. (I'm O.C. D Coy). 

          The Batt. had a sheer time last week. I can find no better epithet: because I cannot say I suffered anything; having let my brain grow dull: That is to say my nerves are in perfect order. 

          It is a strange truth: that your [book of poems] Counter-Attack Frightened me much more than the real one: though the boy by my side, shot through the head, lay on top of me, soaking my shoulder, for half an hour. 

          Catalogue? Photograph? Can you photograph the crimson-hot iron as it cools from the smelting? That is what Jones's blood looked like, and felt like. My senses are charred. 

          I shall feel again as soon as I dare, but now I must not. I don't take the cigarette out of my mouth when I write Deceased over their letters. 

          But one day I will write Deceased over many books. . . . 

                    Ever your W. E. O.

On the other hand, several facts contradict Owen’s supposed homosexuality. His brother, Harold Owen has repeatedly insisted in his brother celibate due to his dedication of poetry, even though, he always tried to protect his brother image. Also, as a major disaster as the First World War was, the main topic of “war poetry” could have darken the other topics.

Personally, I strongly believe that human sexuality is completely personal and it should not be important for the rest of the people because we all have the right to live it the way we want to. However, I also believe that clarifying Owen’s sexuality could help to understand and reflect his life through another different perspective: through love. He is mainly well-known because of describing the horror of war through poetry. But a relevant episode in his life was to meet his “hero” Siegfried Sassoon who changed his perspective of life and how to write poetry — not even mattering their sexual condition.

Nowadays, Wilfred Owen is still remembered and being honored as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century and being more recognized by his homosexuality. On May 25, 2015, British singer Mika — well-known because of being openly gay — released in youtube a music video of his single “Good guys” which has a chorus where he thanked all the famous gay figures who have inspired him, and of course including Wilfred Owen.

What do you think? Should famous figures sexuality be revealed when they had passed away in order to understand better their work and life? What happens with our Nobel Prize for Literature Gabriela Mistral? Have the piece of news in 2009 of her homosexuality changed your perspective of her work?

References:

The Collected Poems of Wilfred Owen, edited by C. Day Lewis (Chatto & Windus, 1963; New York: New Directions, 1964).

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/wilfred-owen [Accessed 28/04/15]

Interest links:

http://rictornorton.co.uk/owen.htm

http://wilfredowenletters.tumblr.com/