Fant also note that “many of Sappho’s poems described a world that men never saw: the deep love women could feel for one another in a society that kept the sexes apart.” While Lardinois, Lefkowitz, Fant and sapphics witness obvious lesbianism in Sappho’s poetry, Sappho’s sexuality is debated in ways heterosexuality is not.ĭespite Sappho’s contested personal life, she was revered as a great poet in her time, including by Plato. She addresses a girl who had to leave her and starts recalling things they did together just to put in the middle of those memories: ‘And on soft beds…you would satisfy your longing’.” “Fragment 94” is proof of lesbian sexual desire. Lardinois points out that: “in this poem, Sappho mentions her own name, so there can be no doubt with the identity of the narrator. However, André Lardinois outlines that, in Fragment 94 (above), she does. For you know how we cherished you.Ī counter-argument to Sappho’s lesbianism is that she never mentions lesbian sexual desire in her poems. Sappho, I swear, against my will I leave you. Oh how badly things have turned out for us. It makes complete sense when we consider Sappho’s erotic and romantic verses addressed to other women. It is a respectful nod to lesbians who have existed before the word for it did. Building a language for attraction between women that revolves around Sappho’s life is an ode to the poet herself. The word ‘ Lesbian’ originates in Sappho’s birthplace, Lesbos. However, her husband was probably a lesbian joke, as his name was Kerkylas of Andros (Dick of Man), and Kleis was probably not her daughter but a woman she was romantically involved with. It is believed that Sappho had a husband and a daughter named Kleis. It’s recorded that Sappho was born around 615 B.C, to an aristocratic family on the island of Lesbos, Greece, and that she had three brothers: Erigyos, Charaxos and Larichos. Jane McIntosh Snyder mentions in her book, Sappho, that we don’t know much about the poet’s life and what we do know is mythologized. So who was Juana Inés de la Cruz? What is the evidence she could have been a lesbian? How is she the Mexican Sappho? Firstly, let’s speak Sappho. Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz is not the first (possible) lesbian from history to have her attraction to women dismissed even poet Sappho’s lesbianism is doubted. She is an important historical figure in Mexico, particularly for her contribution to literature, so admitting there is evidence to support her lesbianism has been denied by academics, critics and wr i ters. You’ve heard of Sappho but have you heard of sor Juana Inés de la Cruz? Like many lesbians from history, drawing conclusions about Juana’s attraction to women is risky, despite the clues. To her decorum and my apprehension I offend.
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