Homoscocial and Homoerotiscism in Shakespeare

Consider the blood betwixt homo societal and homoerotic in William Shakespe bes The Merchant of Venice and A Twelfth Night. To talk of an Individual in this work forceses as being or non being a homosexual is an anachronism and ruinously delusory (Bray, 1982, pg. 16) Before a solid argument disregard commence the reader has to first distinguish a number of key points of view, and to a greater extent over empathise them. The problem with such(prenominal) arguments is of course the hurdle in the midst of contemporary opinions and conversion beliefs. The majority of modern reader/interviews cod an understanding of homo sexual activity, or it in more or less way has been visible to them.This leads to the problem of a modern consultation as warmheartednessing a character is a homosexual based on modern presumptions. However what would be regarded as gay in straight offs society may not have during the renaissance. Another issue that mustiness be increase when considering th is hear is the difference between homosocial and homoerotic. Homosocial is restored by a dealingship of a non-sexual or ro populacetic nature between two or more members of the very(prenominal) sex. Homoerotic is defined as sexual attraction between members of the same-sex. there for it is imperative the reader stay objective lensive when considering the notions of homosocial and homoerotic behaviour. The reader must overly try to remember the con textual matterual factors in which it was written and the audience/readers estimations. The first relationship this essay go out focus on is the 1 between Antonio and Bassanio from William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice. These two share a very strong companionship, so much so that Antonio offers to lend Bassanio a very voluminous sum of gold. Antonio being a wealthy merchant that does not have the cash upfront as it is tied up in his merc accomplishise off shore.He thus decides to go to a Jewish money lender c whollyed Shy lock and offers his property as guarantee for the loan. Shylock has been spurned by the Venetian citizens on numerous occasions and quite frequently retells these cruelties. As a result instead of the property he decides he would rather have a pound of flesh from Antonio. Shylock -In such a place, such sum or sums as are/Expressd in the condition, let the forfeit/Be nominal for an equal pound/Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken/In what part of your bole pleaseth me. ( cause 1, scene 3) Antonio Content, i faith Ill seal to such a wedge/And say there is much good- get out in the Jew (Act 1, scene 3) In this ex swop between Antonio and Shylock, we are exposed to the great lengths in which Antonio will go to make his friend and confidant Bassanio happy. He is willing to offer his smell as insurance. This speaks magnitudes for the spot these two share, and if you take the image of the flesh it could be said that the friends fates are now tied to one flesh. Then the man (Ad am) said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. (Genesis 223-25) To consider this image as a representation of marriage, this steers the reader/audience to believe that Antonio possibly dearests Bassanio more than a friend. It could be implied that there is a romantic connection between the pair and thus that their relationship is homoerotic rather than homosocial.This is especially reinforced by the earlier scenes of the play where Antonio is displayed as a largely melancholic character. Antonio knows bassanio is in want of a wife his depression could perhaps be originated from jealousy. On the other hand it could be argued that Antonio is just upset, because he is now going to be spending less eon with Bassanio. One of the main problems with trying to define the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio, is how frequently their relationship has switches betwee n homoerotic and homosocial undertones.Generally it depends on how the reader takes their exchanges, for example Antonios melancholy at the beginning of the play could be attri thoed to his jealousy of Bassanios want for a wife, or it could be his worry about the friendship in which the two share. Antonio And such want-wit sombreness makes of me, / that I have much ado to know myself. The problem would appear judging by Antonios description of his sadness that, he is worried about himself. Both Antonio and Bassanio share very close relationships in which two men have grown together their characters are defined by each other.Bassanio visualizems to have matured to a point where his life needs more than companionship and wishes to get married Antonio on the other hand is not ready for this change and as result has to do some soul searching. It is Antonios discourage at this rather than a romantic connection which causes the assumption that their relationship is homosocial rather than homoerotic. When Antonio offers to give loan shark a pound of flesh if he defaults on his loan Antonio expects to have the money rather good so its a rather empty gesture suggesting a homosocial relationship.However when he does default on the loan Antonio professes to Bassanio. Antonio Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death / And when the tale is told, sport her be judge /Whether Bassanio had not once a love Antonio is still willing to sacrifice his life for Bassanio and once again professes his love for his friend again suggesting a romantic relationship. The language which Antonio and Bassanio use when lecture to or describing each other for a modern audience coxes them to believe them as being homosexual.However the cultural differences between contemporary audiences and renaissance audiences allow for a different interpretation. Bassanio To you, Antonio, /I owe the most, in money and in love, / And from your love I have a warranty/To unburden all my plots and purposes (Act1, scene1) For a modern audience if a man says to another man he loves him or talks of the love they share, it would be a safe assumption to label them homosexual or at to the lowest degree expect some type of romantic connection. However if you substitute love from this extract for friendship it reads more or less the same and makes perfect sense.This is a difference in language, in Shakespeares time love would be used to describe friendship on a regular basis. The relations between men during the 16th century were very different from they are today, for example it would not thought queer if two men were to spend large amounts of time together or even share the same bed. In general name it would be very difficult to discern a homosexual relationship from companionship during Shakespeares time. The reintroduction of the sodomy act in 1565 meant sodomy was now a capital iniquity and allone caught being homosexual was punishable by death.Homosexuality its self was n ot even invented or at least the term was not so sodomy was used to describe this act. Interestingly enough there are no occasions where a person has been arrested or hung for sodomy alone. It would seem that same sex relations were generally frowned upon but normally ignored. It seems it only became an issue when it threatened social order, the passive male would also be prosecuted more harshly than aggressive male which was perceived by the authorities as a surrendering of his natural masculine role in favour of a subordinate feminine one.As mentioned above during the renaissance period there was a large emphasis on the relationships between men. The thought that a man could find an equal, not in his wife but in a male friend and that bond be stronger than the one capable between men and women. This is true of Shakespeares plays also he uses sexuality to define his characters. The platter of sexual ambiguity in Twelfth night we are introduced to homosocial relationships as well a s homoerotic and bisexual tangents.The relationship between Antonio and Sebastian is very suspect. The first we see of Antonio and Sebastian is in Act 2 scene 1 where Sebastian is wanting to leave for Count Orsinos court in Illyria but Antonio has enemies there. Despite the dangers to Antonio he seems adamant to accompany Sebastian, however Sebastian states on more than one occasion he wishes for Antonio to stay. Antonio Will you stay no longer? nor will you not that I go with you? Sebastian By your patience, no.My stars hang darkly over/me the malignancy of my fate might perhaps /distemper yours therefore I shall implore of you your /leave that I may bear my evils alone it were a bad /recompense for your love, to lay any of them on you. Antonio Let me yet know of you whither you are bound. (Act 2, Scene 1) As mentioned before love is often used within Shakespeares language as a substitute for friendship. However the exchanges between Sebastian and Antonio go by signify so mething different, Antonios desperation to accompany his friend leads the reader and audience to assume there is a romantic connection.The fear of danger is outweighed by Antonios love for Sebastian and thus he decides to travel to Illyria. The oddity between the two men is clearly evident and is spelt out in laymens terms when by and by in the same scene Antonio says Antonio If you will not murder me for my love, let me be your retainer But come what may, I do adore thee so/That danger shall seem sport, and I will go (Act 2, Scene1) Antonio here also admits his love, sexual desire and submissiveness to Sebastian.Joseph Pequigney describes Antonios sexuality in his book such is My do A Study of Shakespeare sonnets as The reason for Antonios portrayal as homosexual is that a liaison with him opens space for Sebastian in the diverse bisexual fictions that make up the Twelfth Night (Pequigney, 1985, pg 203) Antonio has clear homoerotic feelings for Sebastian and paints a very clear image of his sexual urges. Compared to Antonio from The Merchant of Venice, whose desire was born from friendship and homosocial. Shakespeare seems to have stepped up on the sexual commentary and made it far more obvious.The progression of Sebastian and Antonios love is finalised in act 3 scene 3, the audience sees Antonio make several comments regarding his desire for his lover. His love is best displayed by his speech to Sebastian Antonio My desire, / More sharp than filed steel, did spur me forth, / And not all love to see you / But jealousy what might befall your travel (Act 3, scene3) His passion, desire and lust for Sebastian again clearly visible, later in the scene a discussion of sleeping arrangements leads to a very brave piece of lay out writing where Shakespeare clearly refers to the Antonio and Sebastian having sex.Antonio There shall you have me, (Act 3, scene3) Very plain and provocative and suggestive writing by Shakespeare, Pequigney as mentioned above declares t hat Antonio is depicted as quite openly flamboyant homosexual is so Sebastian can part take in the bisexual theme of the play While he carcass heterosexually virginal, he is unlike the virgins Viola and Olivia or Orsino in that he entertains homosexual impulses that are fully conscious and indulged.Antonio awakens those impulses, initiates him into social sexuality, and perhaps thereby prepares him to receive the sudden, surprising advances of the Illyrian lady (Pequigney, 209-10). Pequigneys opinions identify the relationship between Antonio and Sebastian as clearly homoerotic and indeed homosexual/bisexual. Shakespeare leaves little room for speculation regarding this pair of lovers/friends the nature of their relationship would be clear to an audience of the renaissance and to a contemporary audience. The bisexual subplot in A twelfth Night is continued by the relationship between Orsino and Cesario (Viola).Orsino and Cesario share a similar relationship to Antonio and Sebasti an however there are a number of major differences. Cesario is of course a woman disguised as a man. During the exchanges between them we see Orsino refer to Cesario as a man but then lay these with images of a pretrachal sonnet referring to Viola/Cesarios beauty, soft voice and femininity. So essentially the relationship between them both is homoerotic. As there is a clear sexual attraction to each other. To a modern audience who has knowledge of psychology and a broader understanding f gay society will understand Sigmund Freuds opinion on sexuality which I feel helps explain the attraction between Orsino and Cesario. A large proportion of homosexuals retain the mental quality of masculinityand that what they look for in their real sexual object are in fact feminine mental traits. (Freud, 1905) While Freuds view helps us understand Orsinos attraction to Cesario it is still difficult for an audience/reader to catalogue which sexuality Orsino belongs. Essentially the text suggests he is bi curious, Orsino in love with Cesario suggests a homosocial relationship perhaps with erotic undertones.However his love remains unconsummated until viola revels herself as a woman and thus their marriage is possible. However Penquigney states The love for Cesario could not have changed instantaneously with the revelation of his femaleness if it is erotic then it would have been erotic before what does change is that marriage suddenly becomes possible, and hence the immediate proposal (Pequigney, 207). If in agreement with Pequigney it would suggest that the relationship between Cesario/Viola and Orsino has always been homoerotic it was only the constraints of society that prohibited Orsino from the actual act of love.For a Shakespearean audience this must have been a difficult sub-plot to follow as of course women were not permitted to act. There for those audiences would be watching a small boy/young man, play a woman, which was disguised as a man. So their reactions to t he performances of A Twelfth Night would be different for modern audiences. In terminal Shakespeare manages to create a multitude of relationships within the plays The Merchant of Venice and A Twelfth Night. He crosses the lines between homosocial and homoerotic on a number of occasions.The juxtaposition of quite blatant homoerotic with seemingly homosocial relations continue the audience in a state of uncertainty where by sexuality, love and friendship are clouded. The differences that wind between a modern or renaissance audiences/ readers result in a modern audience being quicker to judge the relationships as homoerotic. By keeping your mind free of modern social conventions we can gain a better understanding of the world of sexuality that Shakespeare was trying to convey.Bibliography The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare the Cambridge university impression press published 1953 The Shakespearian Stage 1574-1642 3rd edition Andrew Gurr Twelfth Night the Macmillan Shakespea re 1972 Such Is My Love A Study of Shakespeare*s Sonnets. By Joseph. Pequigney. Chicago University of Chicago Press, 1985 The sexual aberrations S Freud The Material erratic A Lesbigay Cultural Studies , 1996 West view Press The New International Version The Holy intelligence Homoerotic space the poetics of loss in Renaissance literature By Stephen Guy-Bray 1982 University of Toronto press http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Sodomy http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Timeline_of_LGBT_history