by Jinny Webber | May 4, 2018 | Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England |
“I’ve had enough of your tongue. Eat or not, but keep your mouth shut. Isn’t that what the Bible says?” [Martin, Kate’s husband-to-be] Martin had read no Bible, but apparently he had not missed that favorite lesson of Father Jaggard, from the first gospel...
by Jinny Webber | Mar 16, 2018 | Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England, The Man-Woman |
In her first appearance to Charles, Dauphin of France, Joan describes her vision of the Virgin Mary—and then proves herself by matching swords with the Dauphin and winning. I still had far to go in my skill with rapier and dagger, and I envied Jack’s adroit parrying....
by Jinny Webber | Feb 23, 2018 | Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England, The Man-Woman |
“Moll Frith was the most notable woman in London after the Queen, to whom she was as opposite as a chunk of red glass from a ruby.” The Secret Player, Chapter XII As Queen Elizabeth was known for her gems and finery, Moll Frith was known for the...
by Jinny Webber | Feb 13, 2018 | Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England |
Perhaps The Taming of the Shrew was simply a jest, as Will Kemp claimed. “We men know that no woman can be well and truly tamed!” Chapter X, The Secret Player Shrew-taming was the subject of joke and ballad in Shakespeare’s day. “The Merry Jest of a Shrewd...
by Jinny Webber | Feb 2, 2018 | Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England
“I’ve had enough of your tongue,” Martin said. “Eat or don’t, but keep your mouth shut. Isn’t that what the Bible says?” Apparently Martin was familiar with Father Jaggard’s favorite lesson. Kate Collins in Chapter I, The Secret Player Sermons and the culture...
by Jinny Webber | Jan 25, 2018 | Christopher Marlowe, Gender fluidity, Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England |
“Perhaps I shall write about a Ganymede. Thus would Neptune discover a swimmer on the shore: Leander, so lovely that he might be a maid in man’s attire.” Christopher Marlowe, after seeing Sander fresh from swimming and thinking him a boy....
by Jinny Webber | Jan 19, 2018 | Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England
“You’re the one who inspired me.” [Kate says to her brother Johnny] “Me?” “Your knowledge. Your Ovid that you taught me to read, all those fantastical transformations. Now I shall have one myself.” “Into a boy.” He...
by Jinny Webber | Oct 29, 2017 | Boy actors on Shakespeare's stage, Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England
My first stage kiss, given me by Suffolk, I accepted as Margaret awakening to her potential: “That for thyself; I will not so presume/ To send such peevish tokens to a king.” Sander Cooke, Chapter XI, The Secret Player Near the conclusion of her chapter on...
by Jinny Webber | Aug 8, 2017 | Boy actors on Shakespeare's stage, Christopher Marlowe, Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England
Whatever you may have heard, not every boy gains my attentions. For all his honey-gold hair, Jack charms me not. But you.” Marlowe looked at me sorrowfully. “A girl!” “Enough to damn me?” “Not to damn you. But I don’t make love to girls and cannot imagine it now, for...
by Jinny Webber | Aug 3, 2017 | Boy actors on Shakespeare's stage, Gender fluidity, Sex and Gender in, Sex and Gender in Shakespeare's England |
“What? Shall I have my son a stager now? An ingle for players?” Ben Jonson, Poetaster How much would a boy actor be pressured sexually? And by whom? Sander Cooke, knowing that in her boy’s garb she will be desired by both men and women, determines to be admired...
