Cloaked in Queerness: Challenging Gender Identities in L’Histoire de la Marquise-Marquis de Banneville

Abstract: The article examines the intersection of sex and gender in L’Histoire de la Marquise-Marquis de Banneville . While not strictly a fairy tale, it aligns with other “queer” experiments in the genre, particularly concerning gender fluidity and adaptability. Although it appears to present three instances of cross-dressing, Marquise-Marquis actually portrays non-heteronormative identities that do not fully conform to traditional notions of “gender deviation.” In doing so, the text underscores the fairy-tale backdrop’s capacity to probe novel identities and the relevance of gender performance today. This analysis highlights how Marquise-Marquis bridges the past and present in the exploration of sex and gender, making it a relevant text to understand queerness today.