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Charles Brockden Brown's Ormond and Lesbian Possibility in the Early Republic

Charles Brockden Brown's Ormond and Lesbian Possibility in the Early Republic kristin m. commentUniversity of Massachusetts— Lowell and Framington State College Charles Brockden Brown’s Ormond andLesbian Possibility in the EarlyRepublic Charles Brockden Brown’s Ormond (1799) contains the first ex- tended fictional portrayal in America of what the novelist calls ‘‘roman- tic passion’’ between women. Early critics generally treat the homoeroti- cism between Constantia Dudleyand Sophia Courtland either with disdain or as a psychological aberration. Harvey R. Warfel, for example, claims that ‘‘emotions of normal love are alien to [Constantia’s] nature, and there seems to be a homosexual tendency in her conduct’’ (135); Donald A. Ringe remarks that ‘‘Constantia’s relationship with Sophia leaves much to be de- sired [. . .] at best, the relationship is not one to increase the stature of Constantia as the heroine of the novel’’ (44); Norman S. Grabo views Con- stantia’s ‘‘queer’’ friendship with Sophia as one of ‘‘a series of tests or temp- tations’’ in the formation of her ‘‘sexual identity’’; and Steven Watts argues that ‘‘it seems no accident that as [Constantia’s] rational faculties steadily prov[e] less able to illuminate the social and moral atmosphere, she turn[s] to the attractions of female homoeroticism’’ (97). In contrast to theseviews, Lillian Faderman identifies the text http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Early American Literature University of North Carolina Press

Charles Brockden Brown's Ormond and Lesbian Possibility in the Early Republic

Early American Literature , Volume 40 (1) – Feb 17, 2005

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Publisher
University of North Carolina Press
Copyright
Copyright © 2005 The University of North Carolina Press.
ISSN
1534-147X

Abstract

kristin m. commentUniversity of Massachusetts— Lowell and Framington State College Charles Brockden Brown’s Ormond andLesbian Possibility in the EarlyRepublic Charles Brockden Brown’s Ormond (1799) contains the first ex- tended fictional portrayal in America of what the novelist calls ‘‘roman- tic passion’’ between women. Early critics generally treat the homoeroti- cism between Constantia Dudleyand Sophia Courtland either with disdain or as a psychological aberration. Harvey R. Warfel, for example, claims that ‘‘emotions of normal love are alien to [Constantia’s] nature, and there seems to be a homosexual tendency in her conduct’’ (135); Donald A. Ringe remarks that ‘‘Constantia’s relationship with Sophia leaves much to be de- sired [. . .] at best, the relationship is not one to increase the stature of Constantia as the heroine of the novel’’ (44); Norman S. Grabo views Con- stantia’s ‘‘queer’’ friendship with Sophia as one of ‘‘a series of tests or temp- tations’’ in the formation of her ‘‘sexual identity’’; and Steven Watts argues that ‘‘it seems no accident that as [Constantia’s] rational faculties steadily prov[e] less able to illuminate the social and moral atmosphere, she turn[s] to the attractions of female homoeroticism’’ (97). In contrast to theseviews, Lillian Faderman identifies the text

Journal

Early American LiteratureUniversity of North Carolina Press

Published: Feb 17, 2005

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