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ArchivesRe: Pondering the gender of the name Ariel in Shakespeare's play "The Tempest"
in reply to a message by Selwyn
Selwyn , I agree with you but it could be that he was just a very feminine man if you get the drift. It is an interesting question though.
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Replies
*smiles* True enough, but (txt)
You see when I presented this problem to a friend of mine
he suggested that the knot would be solved if we assumed that Prospero was homosexsual. This is however not a possible solution I think since Prospero both has a daughter and that his words about his possibily diseased wife are longing:
MIRANDA Sir, are not you my father?
PROSPERO Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and
She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father
Was Duke of Milan ; and thou his only heir
And princess no worse issued.
As I read it Prospero is here not speaking of something which displeased him. If he had been homosexsual he would probably not have spoken in a longing tone when mentioning a past wife. Furthermore he was as duke of Milan , which should be a powerful enough position to
avoid marriage and keep a male lover instead. If that was his wish I mean.
You see when I presented this problem to a friend of mine
he suggested that the knot would be solved if we assumed that Prospero was homosexsual. This is however not a possible solution I think since Prospero both has a daughter and that his words about his possibily diseased wife are longing:
MIRANDA Sir, are not you my father?
PROSPERO Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and
She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father
Was Duke of Milan ; and thou his only heir
And princess no worse issued.
As I read it Prospero is here not speaking of something which displeased him. If he had been homosexsual he would probably not have spoken in a longing tone when mentioning a past wife. Furthermore he was as duke of Milan , which should be a powerful enough position to
avoid marriage and keep a male lover instead. If that was his wish I mean.
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O.K. So maybe he was bisexual and just wanted a boyfriend on the side. It was not unheard of then or so I have been told. It is an interesting debate. I think I will put it to the English instructor at the college I attend just to see his opinion. Nice talking to you.
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well *grins*
I do not know any bisexsual so I am not sure what to say to that.
I cannot bring forth a direct proof of Prospero being heterosexual, but since such proof cannot be brought forth to support the thought that he should be bisexual either, one must conclude that it is a matter open to interpretation.
I thus take the side saying that Prospero is heterosexual.
It would be interesting if you could let me know what your english instructor said.
I am glad you enjoyed the post and that it made you wonder.
-Selwyn
I do not know any bisexsual so I am not sure what to say to that.
I cannot bring forth a direct proof of Prospero being heterosexual, but since such proof cannot be brought forth to support the thought that he should be bisexual either, one must conclude that it is a matter open to interpretation.
I thus take the side saying that Prospero is heterosexual.
It would be interesting if you could let me know what your english instructor said.
I am glad you enjoyed the post and that it made you wonder.
-Selwyn
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Ariel vs. Caliban
Prospero could've been hetero and just had a gay friend in Ariel. I'm hetero and happen to have quite a few gay friends.
Or perhaps (because Ariel is essentially Prospero's servant) the character of Ariel might be played as the prototype gay houseboy, a la *The Bird Cage*? :)
Anyone notice how the name of "Caliban" is *almost* an anagram of "cannibal"? If you misspell the word as "canibal", then it's a perfect anagram. And Caliban is quite a brutish character in the play, as well. As Prospero's other servant, Caliban is the antithesis of Ariel.
-- Nanaea
Prospero could've been hetero and just had a gay friend in Ariel. I'm hetero and happen to have quite a few gay friends.
Or perhaps (because Ariel is essentially Prospero's servant) the character of Ariel might be played as the prototype gay houseboy, a la *The Bird Cage*? :)
Anyone notice how the name of "Caliban" is *almost* an anagram of "cannibal"? If you misspell the word as "canibal", then it's a perfect anagram. And Caliban is quite a brutish character in the play, as well. As Prospero's other servant, Caliban is the antithesis of Ariel.
-- Nanaea
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All those possibilities :)
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