MovieChat Forums > The Thorn Birds (1983) Discussion > Was Luke Gay?

Was Luke Gay?

posted 16 years ago by harlemsushi
66 replies | jump to latest

It seemed to me that he was. For instance, initally when we saw him shearing sheep with one of the Cleary Brothers, he was staring at the one brother's body in an odd shot. Then there was his wedding night with Meggie where it is hinted that he had anal sex with Meggie. The point is further reenforced when she states that it hurt her and when she is trying to explain to the woman she is working for in Queensland about the way they had been intimate and how it is not conducive to having a baby. Then on Christmans she makes the omission after they had sex that it was "better that way." Finally, Luke always seemed to be overcompensating with everything from his job to constantly proving his manhood to the fact that he would rather be cutting cane in the hot sun than being with Meggie. I may be reading into it too deep but I'd like to know what you guys think?

[–] windycheryl 11 years ago

harlemsushi,
Sorry to be chiming in so late, but I just watched the miniseries today for the first time. I came here to see other people's thoughts on the show vs the book.

I must agree, when I watched the show I wondered if they were portraying Luke as gay. I did not get that from the book, but I intend to reread it with that in mind.

Take a chance, flip a coin, everything is 50/50

[–] krautdoggg 10 years ago

I just finished watching the series for the first time. I didn't read the book. It seemed pretty obvious to me that Luke was gay (although Luke himself probably didn't even know he was gay.) It was my impression that he was not having sex with Meggie. And I wondered myself in the scene where she was discussing sex with the owner's wife, if Luke was doing her Greek-style. How about the scene where Luke takes her dancing with all the men in their kilts? He goes dancing every Saturday night, and decides to take her only once?

[–] khudson6 9 years ago

No he was not gay. In the book he also gets it on with Miss Carmichael while dating Meggie.

[–] highpriestess32 9 years ago

Yes I got the impression from book references he was not meant to be gay. Was he deliberately portrayed ambiguously in the series though? I mean in all honesty, the actor always plays more of a man's man but there are a few ambiguous scenes that now as an adult, caused me to question his sexuality (that of Luke not Brown himself lol).

As a child I wouldn't have observed anything untoward but maybe I've been watching too much Brokeback Mountain haha! What sealed it for me is the harmless wrestle he had with Arnie. It all seemed to carry a flirtatious undertone. Yes it could be said that he was only after Meggie's money but if he was truly a red-blooded man he would not have been as neglectful of Meggie as he was. Who knows, maybe he just worried about having more mouths to feed since he was angry at her becoming pregnant with their daughter. Meggie was supposedly somewhat of a beauty but Luke just seemed to want to spend much of his time with his friend. Maybe I am wrong - maybe it WAS accidental that Luke came across as a closet homosexual.

Has anyone seen my wife? - Columbo

[–] Eva_Marrie 8 years ago

If he were straight and simply worried about pregnancy, he would've still been keen on engaging in 'other things' with her, or at least explored better birth control options than the condoms that caused so much pain for Maggie. Yes, I know that contraceptive options were dire in the 1930s, but there was still some choice available and he could've made the effort to find out.

The fact that she has to get him dead drunk in order to drag him into bed is also a big red (gay!) flag. Their initial painful sex could also come from his lack of experience with women.

There's also the option of asexuality or just lack of attraction to Maggie, no matter how beautiful she was.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tamarajessica 8 years ago

Never really thought Luke was gay... Vittorio on the other hand...

[–] Prelude (1443) 7 years ago

I just think Luke was one of those guys who are just more interested in hanging out with their buddies and being a perpetual bachelor who doesn't actually really want a wife and a home to center his focus on at all.

I was involved with a guy like that and he will never be good partner material. His circle of male friends -- many of them just like him, single and immature -- are all that matters to him.

These guys are not gay, they're just selfish and perpetual "me and my buddies" types, like "bros first."