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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries & Replies From Everyone Else 4.2.97: Top | Help
You wrote:Where in this sonnet does it say that it is addressed to a man?
Nowhere. Did I say it did?
But if you take the sonnet sequence as a whole, things look
different. Let's go on to Son 20. That one says quite plainly
that it's written to a man. "A man in hue, all hues in his
controlling....the master-mistress of my passion...." etc.What interests me, is why we have to squabble over such
obviousities. No one gets upset at the idea that sonnets 127ff
are just as plainly written to a woman. They just argue over
her identity.Why does the idea that WS might have loved a man seem so outrageous?
To avoid the obvious conclusion people tie themselves in veritable
knots. It's just the usual stupid homophobia at root. (And no,
I'm not gay. It just doesn't bother me that some people are. Some
guys like blondes, some guys like brunettes, some guys like guys.
So what?)So WS liked both. What's interesting, however, is the difference
in feeling in his attitude. Nowhere do we get a sonnet addressed
to the "lovely boy" that's like "My mistress' eyes are nothing
like the sun," which comes as near to an insult as a compliment
might get. There's a palpable difference in feel between the
"boy sonnets" and the "girl sonnets." Noting this is part of the
pay off for recognizing the difference in WS's intended audience.Posted by Professor Mike on April 16, 1997 at 02:15:08
In Reply to ""Shall I compare..."" posted by Thersites on April 16, 1997 at 01:43:59
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries & Replies From Everyone Else 4.2.97: Top | Help