Homosexuality has always and everywhere existed. Nazis considered homosexuality
as a tendency that could not be changed. It was assumed that a homosexual orientation could
not be eliminated, that only its exhibitions could be blocked. The Nazi system was concerned
with deviations from the norm, not only in religion and ethnicity, but also sexuality, and
attitudes toward it. As part of the Nazis' attempt to purify German society and create an
"Aryan master race," they condemned homosexuals as socially eccentric.
Antal Szerb took a big risk writing such a controversial novel. The Traveler contains
many sexual elements which can clearly be seen why it aggravated the Nazis into executing
him. In his days, theoretically, the economic system was characterized by the state's plan to
control the economy and a single party held power. Their goal was to make everybody equal.
If it be color, race, religion, or belief; nobody was to be different. Even if his life style did
not reflect his novel, Antal Szerb jeopardized his life and career with what he wrote.
One of the themes in this novel was homosexuality. A dichotomous issue even today,
it was most likely not even mentioned out in public back then. Homosexuals were massively
persecuted and tortured. Many laws were passed by Nazis that targeted sex offenders. They
were given the worst kind of treatment in the concentration camps, but despite the obvious
hate the Nazis had for homosexuals, Antal Szerb still wrote about it for anyone to read. The
impression is there even though the book does not come out and directly say it. "Tamás was
my ideal. Eva, more of a bonus, an erotic tool in these games." (Szerb, 270) Evidently, the
writer here is implying that the character has some what of a liking to his male friend, him
being male as well. Mihály's character was very effeminate with a refined face and ...