Dangerous Fruits:

Lesbian Victorian Poetics and the Blurring of Female Homosexuality

Caroline M. Lesch
Dr. Sarah Day, Faculty Mentor

Female homosexuality has been disregarded or erased throughout the history of Western culture; the Victorian era is no exception. This period of history is often portrayed as completely devoid of same-sex attraction (and of female sexuality in general). Contrary to this belief, same-sex female attraction did indeed exist in this period. Lesbian poetics of the time are testaments to the existence of female same-sex desire and give voice to the experience of Victorian lesbian and bisexual women. This research explores common themes of confusion and fear that appear throughout such literature and utilizes poems by Amy Levy, Michael Field, and Christina Rossetti to emphasize the consequent blurring of same-sex relationships between Victorian women.

Keywords: Literature, Lesbian, Women, Victorian, Poetry, LGBT, Women's Studies

Topic(s):English
Women's and Gender Studies

Presentation Type: Oral Presentation

Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA