Are some of Shakespeare's characters homosexual?

[kelby_lake]

It's been suggested by quite a few people that some are. I'm not convinced by the Cassius/Brutus thing but Iago certainly seems to be.

[DanielBenoit]

I don't think it really matters, and I haven't read Othello yet (I know, I am the worst person in the world!), but it is clear that there are homoerotic themes throughout the sonnets.

[Maryd.]

Many of my friends have read shakespeare and have quoted on a lot of his characters being portrayed as gay. So I cannot rightly say if this is true or not as I don't read much shakespeare at all, but as Daniel says, does it really matter?

[Snowqueen]

but it is clear that there are homoerotic themes throughout the sonnets.

The way Shakespeare expresses his admiration for the Fair Youth in his sonnets, reminds me of Basil Hallward who becomes infatuated with Dorian's beauty.

[Modigliani]

Eh. Ultimately, it's a matter of interpretation. Realistically, we have no way of determining the precise sexual orientation of Iago or others of his characters who seem to stray from the period norm in this respect. Just another strand of human essence that may or may not be pulled and emphasized in the body of Shakespeare's works depending on the interests of the reader/hearer.

[mayneverhave]

The Rosalind/Celia relationship in As You Like It definitely draws attention.

whose loves
Are dearer than the natural bond of sisters.

[Janine]

People are always drawing a reference to Iago having a thing for Othello. I don't see it at all. If you examine the text Iago indicates his jealousy of Casio; also he intimates that he thinks Othello has done service between his sheets with his wife; at one point he even claims to hate the Moor. I don't think this points to a love for him at all. He is happy to see his demise. I think with Iago the whole deal is power and importance.

Daniel, You're not the worst person in the world..haha...but you should read the play; it is one of my favorites and I love seeing it performed. I own the Parker directed version and like it very much. I watch it often. It fascinates me.

[kelby_lake]

I can't get the Parker directed version.

There's certainly hints that Iago might have feelings towards Othello in that film and in the play when he makes up that weird lie about Cassio mistaking Iago for Desdemona in his sleep.

Apparantly Pandarus and Troilus have something going on too?

[hellsapoppin]

There is a great deal of closeness among several of the women characters. But none that I recall are explicitly described as homosexual.

By contrast, in Hamlet where the courtier Osric was called ''waterfly'' because his acts were effeminate. See Act V, Sc ii.

There was also a provocative character who complained of the heat and scenery after a battle in one of the histories and his effete conduct angered Hotspur. Because of this the latter failed to show proper deference to the king (sorry, can't remember which one).

And how about the Duke in Mid Summer Night's Dream? That was said by some to be rather effeminate as well.

[kelby_lake]

Apparantly there's something between Pandarus and Troilus?

[OrphanPip]

We have to remember that the concept of someone being a homosexual as we conceive of it today did not exist in Shakespeare's time. I agree that homoeroticism is present in a lot of his work, but we just have to be careful not to misinterpret actions from our modern western gender perspective. Effeminacy could be used to imply character flaws that were associated with women.

[Lokasenna]

It often falls into the director's choice. I've seen Hamlet/Horatio (actually works), Iago/Othello (don't really buy into that), Hal/Falstaff (doesn't work), Antonio/Bassanio (justified)... the list goes on.

I think that homosexual overtones are much more overt in Marlowe's works... particularly in Edward II, but also in Faustus to a strong degree.

[kelby_lake]

Sir Toby/Sir Andrew, maybe?

[jat-balwal]

We have to remember that the concept of someone being a homosexual as we conceive of it today did not exist in Shakespeare's time.

in relation to Iago, we can interperate him as homosexual, but we can only say this due to his jealousy of cassio and his misogyny

[Dori]

People are always drawing a reference to Iago having a thing for Othello. I don't see it at all. If you examine the text Iago indicates his jealousy of Casio; also he intimates that he thinks Othello has done service between his sheets with his wife; at one point he even claims to hate the Moor. I don't think this points to a love for him at all. He is happy to see his demise. I think with Iago the whole deal is power and importance.

Daniel, You're not the worst person in the world..haha...but you should read the play; it is one of my favorites and I love seeing it performed. I own the Parker directed version and like it very much. I watch it often. It fascinates me.

It is fascinating, but it also has some bad points. I won't go into that, though, unless you would have me do so.

I can't get the Parker directed version.

There's certainly hints that Iago might have feelings towards Othello in that film and in the play when he makes up that weird lie about Cassio mistaking Iago for Desdemona in his sleep.

Also, when he says, "I am your own for ever." If you don't have access to the film, I found the scene on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhx7LCBHwLc (I actually used this very clip in a group presentation on Othello yesterday). Clearly, Branagh's intention was to portray Iago thus.

And here are some quotes:

There are a kind of men so loose of soul,
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs:
One of this kind is Cassio:
In sleep I heard him say 'Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;'

Nothing too exciting, yet...

And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand,
Cry 'O sweet creature!' and then kiss me hard,
As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg
Over my thigh, and sigh'd, and kiss'd; and then
Cried 'Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!'

Oh la la! Is Iago playing out a fantasy here?

And then, later on:

Both kneeling

IAGO:Witness, you ever-burning lights above,
You elements that clip us round about,
Witness that here Iago doth give up
The execution of his wit, hands, heart,
To wrong'd Othello's service! [...]

They rise

OTHELLO: I greet thy love,
Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,
[...]
Now art thou my lieutenant.

IAGO: I am your own for ever.

Peter Saccio, a Shakespeare scholar, has suggested that this is almost like a marriage scene.

So, yeah, there's ample evidence to suggest such an interpretation.