When A Single Man was published in 1964, views of gay people were extremely negative and ignorant. George is a gay man living in Los Angeles during the 1960s. He left his home in England due to his orientation being illegal and widespread prejudice, hoping life for him would be less secretive in the United States. While no longer at risk of being jailed, George still faces gossip, shame, and isolation. With that said, he embodies the ways prejudice against minorities affect people as individuals.

The effects of prejudice on George are numerous and severe. First and foremost, George is not allowed to be his true self, citing the “psychological makeup” (27) he must wear to be acceptable in the public sphere. Not being able to be himself creates shame within George, and he begins to see himself as the abhorrent “creature” (2) that others do. While George is fortunate enough to find love amid his social isolation, Jim is taken from him in a cruel twist of fate, leaving him even lonelier than before. He is acutely aware of the way others view gay relationships, and speaks to Mrs. Strunk in his head, saying “Jim wasn’t a substitute for anything” (27).