a word from our sponsors
See the new shakespeare.com. This feature, while it still provides useful information, is no longer maintained.
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help
There's a more detailed discussion on this subject elsewhere on this site.
(In the "non-student forum" I think.) The real answer is we don't know.In Shakespeare's day, hetrosexual men wore jewellery and perfume and greeted eachother with a kiss on the lips. There was nothing effeminate in this behaviour. Also, there is no significance whatsoever in the fact that the female roles in S's plays were played by boys dressed as women: that was simply a convention of the time (cross dressing still happens in the traditional British Christmas entertainment of Pantomime). The reason why several of S's female characters disguise themselves as boys is because it was easier for boy actors to play boys than play women. (the other reason is that it gives rise to some bawdy comedy, like Olivia falling in love with "Cesario" in 12th Night.)
Posted by Thersites on April 08, 1997 at 03:39:31
In Reply to "Was shakespeare gay" posted by dan on April 04, 1997 at 20:22:46
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help