Harrison Greene

Thursday, February 28, 2002

Professor Hardy

Gender and Sexuality

Daniel Brewer is absolutely right, in Grecian culture it seemed as though homosocialist as well as homosexual relationships were widely accepted. Indeed they were apparently encouraged. This also leads to a de-valuing of female companionship, a companionship that sees resurgence in Roman literature.

Caelius and Clodia, Antony and Cleopatra, Dido and Aeneas, all of these were important heterosexual relationships. It would be most prudent to compare Grecian homosocial relationships to that of Dido and Aeneas, as they are the most radical relationships (though all of the preceding relationships were not exactly the healthiest). Phaedrus states that there is no better thing for an old man than a young lover and vice versa. Roman culture seems to appreciate the role of woman as protector, sexual partners, and intellectual beings, though not on par with men. Aeneas, hero of the Aeneid, has feelings for and sexual relations with, no less than three women. He clearly values their company and their attention, but he, the most perfect of Roman hero’s, never speaks of homosexual relationships. Dido is a strong and intelligent woman who has fallen in love with Aeneas. Much like Phaedrus said Dido would do anything for Aeneas, because she is in love with him. Woman, in Roman society, are given their given much more credit than in Grecian society, and it would seem rightfully so.

Phaedrus had no qualms in saying that male lovers would rather die than be shamed in their loved ones eyes. In the Aeneid, Dido kills herself when Aeneas leaves because she loves him so. In the Symposium it is also argued that an intelligent lover is to be preferred to a stupid one, Dido is queen of Carthage! It seems as though the ideals of Grecian homosexuality have transferred to Roman heterosexual. When in Rome…