They Were Totally Doing It Together

Yes, I thought that might capture your attention, you naughty blogfiends. Of course, what I mean is that they were totally writing kick-ass Elizabethan drama at about the same time. What did you think I meant?

For reals, though, my Shakespeare seminar for this semester is entitled "Shakespeare & Marlowe: Friends & Lovers." Thus far we haven't supposed anything untoward about the sexual (mis)adventures of the world's favorite bard and his openly homosexual (and atheist) contemporary Christopher Marlowe, but we do know that they were in London at the same time and shared some of the same hangouts (as brilliantly imagined in Stoppard's Shakespeare in Love). And according to the historical accounts, practically everyone was at least "bi-curious" in those filthy, poop-in-the-streets Renaissance days.

And after all, why is Antonio so sad at the beginning of The Merchant of Venice? Could it be because he cannot officially 'get it on' with his "bosom lover" Bassanio? And who is the mysterious Mr. W. H. of the sonnets? The world may never know.

So whaddya think, blogsters? Was Willy into showtunes and interior design? If not, what's with all the penis jokes and cross-dressing in the plays? If so, was he Chris Marlowe's "bosom lover"? Leave your comment, and the truth will "out"!