Claudine (manga)
| Fandom | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Claudine (クローディーヌ...!) |
| Abbreviation(s): | |
| Creator: | Riyoko Ikeda |
| Date(s): | 1978 |
| Medium: | manga |
| Country of Origin: | Japan |
| External Links: | Wikipedia |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Claudine, stylized Claudine...! or Claudine..., was a 1978 manga now known principally for being one of the first manga with a transgender protagonist. Like Ikeda's more famous work, The Rose of Versailles, it deals with gender and sexuality.
Claude Montesse is born Claudine, but from an early age identifies as a boy. The story outlines his childhood and family life, from his close bond with his father to his romantic entanglements. His first kiss is with a girl named Maura, who is quickly sent home after the two are caught, and his final relationship is with a girl who chooses his brother over him, leading to his suicide.
Claude's story is told from the point of view of his therapist, who continually refers to him as his correct gender and speaks of him fondly, never considering him deviant or wrong for for his assertions.
Response
While the manga ends with the title character's suicide because of dysphoria and rejection over his identity, after which his psychiatrist states that he was unquestionably a transgender man, Claudine has often been treated as a yuri title due to a lack of awareness in fandom of transgender issues. The protagonist's chosen name is Claude, and it has been pointed out that the manga is titled after his deadname.[1]
However, critics have also praised Claudine as being a compassionate work for the time it was published and especially the time in which it took place. The therapist Claude was seeing didn't seek to "fix" him, but help him deal with the challenges of being transgender in a society that can't accept such a thing. While two of his prospect partners rejected him due to seeing him as a girl, his supportive childhood friend always saw him as a man and accepted him, even when he couldn't return her romantic feelings. Despite the manga ending with the Bury Your Gays trope, credit is given to the fact that Claude's death is seen in-universe as a tragedy rather than a consequence of being LGBT.
Fanworks
- Claudine drabbles by Rosa Chinensis for yuridrabbles. The author's note nods to differing opinions on the title character's gender.
Other
- Claudine...! - Ikeda Riyoko on AO3