in which angevin2 and commodorified (and Germaine Greer) engage in exegesis

[angevin2]

on 1 Henry IV 1.3.174 (with an assist from Eric Partridge). Not coming soon to a variorum Shakespeare near you.

Comments

[angevin2]

This is true, but I am shockingly singleminded.

Not that shockingly.

[angevin2]

Thanks! commodorified made it. :)

[tree_and_leaf]

The 'rose as female genitalia' is certainly possible - it comes up in a number of mediaeval poems, and also in later folk songs, though sometimes it seems to mean virginity. I've never though of it in terms of the tetralogy, but it's an ... interesting possibility. I love Shakespeare when he talks dirty!

[tree_and_leaf]

*decides does not really want to think about Alice B. Toklas's rose, hoping this does not make me a Bad Feminist*

Um... I don't think so, no.

And of course you're right; also, sometimes a rose is something else. I doubt it's particularly relevant to 'Little Gidding', for instance!

[angevin2]

Yeah -- I mean, obviously it is the central conceit of the Roman de la Rose.

I mostly brought up the tetralogy because it is always where my brain goes...

[lareinenoire]

Waaaait...does that mean the Temple Garden scene in 1 Henry VI is a massive orgy? The entire scene is about roses!

::hides::

[angevin2]

Evidently!

The line "Hath not thy rose a canker, Somerset?" is instantly much, much more disgusting...

[lareinenoire]

When in doubt, blame the French pox. ;)

[garpu]

The slash writes itself. ;)

[gileonnen]

While I love what this does for Hotspur, I'm less certain how I feel about what it does for Juliet. ^_~

[gileonnen]

Hehehe, Blake will never be the same--!

[angevin2]

I thought that poem was already about VD...