Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society How Sexy Was Shakespeare?
Dec 30, 2025
Cultural historian Anna Beer, author of The Life of the Author: William Shakespeare, dives into the tantalizing world of Shakespeare's sexuality and its reflections in his works. They explore his bawdy language, revealing sexual innuendos even in tragedies. Gender fluidity in plays sparks discussion on queerness, while intense male friendships hint at emotional depth beyond heterosexuality. Anna deciphers the ambiguous nature of the sonnets, highlighting connections to London’s sex industry, making Shakespeare a captivatingly enigmatic figure.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Sonnets Reveal Male-Directed Desire
- Shakespeare's sonnets include explicit male-directed love poems that challenge simple labels.
- Dr Anna Beer says the texts reveal persistent queer themes across his work.
"Nothing" Is Often Vulva Slang
- The word "nothing" in Shakespeare often functions as a crude slang for the vulva.
- Dr Anna Beer highlights the repeated genital wordplay even in serious plays like King Lear.
All-Male Casts Amplified Gender Play
- Original performances used boys playing women's parts, so language had to supply sexual meaning.
- Anna Beer argues cross-dressing heightened gender play and queer possibilities on stage.