The subject of lesbian eroticism and desire in today’s society brings to mind the images of women engaging in lewd acts. The poems “Friendship’s Mystery to My Dearest Lucasia” set by Mr. H Lawes ,“To the Fair Clarinda, Who made Love to Me, Imagined More than Woman” by Aphra Behn and “Decade” by Amy Lowell each have their own take on this subject. The theme of lesbian eroticism and desire expressed within the stanzas supports both its original context as well as society’s current views. Historically, acts of kissing and other light touching between women were symbols of friendship, imparting to one another what’s considered a natural occurrence. With this being known, there were still individuals who were gay and lesbian, some of which embraced
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In “Friendship’s Mystery to My Dearest Lucasia” the reflection of the theme is mild for the most part. In this body of work the women involved seemed to have more of a platonic interaction, seeking only to be able to express the love for one another without judgement and limitations. This poem takes on the traditional context of “Lesbianism…and Desire”, women who only wishes to engage in friendship and the comfortability that comes along with it. In the poem “To the Fair Clarinda, Who made Love to Me, Imagined More than Woman” the reflection of the theme is much more apparent. Although this poem contains such imagery of sexual acts between women some will still interpret it as ambiguous, classifying the person of interest as neither sex. As the poem continues the speaker justifies the acts between herself and Clarinda. The speaker compares the acts between man and woman, acts that can lead to penetration and pregnancy. The reader then interprets the actions between women to be innocent and free of wrongdoing. Lastly the poem “Decade” is nearly an epitome of the theme. There is a sensuality and familiarity present between the two women that well support the theme throughout the body of work. It begins at the start of the poem with the passion of those first two lines and ending with the last two lines acknowledging their lasting
In “Friendship’s Mystery to My Dearest Lucasia” the reflection of the theme is mild for the most part. In this body of work the women involved seemed to have more of a platonic interaction, seeking only to be able to express the love for one another without judgement and limitations. This poem takes on the traditional context of “Lesbianism…and Desire”, women who only wishes to engage in friendship and the comfortability that comes along with it. In the poem “To the Fair Clarinda, Who made Love to Me, Imagined More than Woman” the reflection of the theme is much more apparent. Although this poem contains such imagery of sexual acts between women some will still interpret it as ambiguous, classifying the person of interest as neither sex. As the poem continues the speaker justifies the acts between herself and Clarinda. The speaker compares the acts between man and woman, acts that can lead to penetration and pregnancy. The reader then interprets the actions between women to be innocent and free of wrongdoing. Lastly the poem “Decade” is nearly an epitome of the theme. There is a sensuality and familiarity present between the two women that well support the theme throughout the body of work. It begins at the start of the poem with the passion of those first two lines and ending with the last two lines acknowledging their lasting