#but i guess bencutio was too fangirly for an academe

[cto10121]

R&J Clown Takes Special Edition—The Migratory Slash (Academic) Fandom Strikes Again

Today’s post is sponsored by this piece of Romecutio clownery, from Will Tosh’s Straight Acting:

Tag yourself, I’m “proprietorial concern with his friend’s penis.”

So Tosh is trying to spin Mercutio’s bawdy “open-arse and poperin pear” verse as 1) proof of Mercutio’s own sublimated desire for Romeo and/or 2) Mercutio implying Romeo personally likes it anal with his girlfriends.

This is disingenuous on Tosh’s part. The whole point of this scene is that Mercutio is trying to get Romeo to answer him (“I conjure thee…he heareth not, stirreth not”). Hence, why his invocations get more and more lewd and outrageous. Benvolio even warns him he’ll go too far: “This will anger him.”

Another reason is that Mercutio firmly believes that Romeo’s love for Rosaline is purely sexual (he’d be half right in that). This is Mercutio’s way of trying to persuade Romeo to get over Rosaline—only instead of Benvolio’s wholesome encouragement, he does this through typical bro negging and roasting.

Also, I don’t know where the “languishing effects of excessive sex with Rosaline” comes from. Both Mercutio and Benvolio know Rosaline rejected Romeo and did not allow him any kind of access to her. I heavily doubt either of them would assume he was successful at persuading her (Romeo himself did not even express any interest in trying to) and is with her now. It’s a possible interpretation, I guess, but it seems to me Mercutio is just clowning.

Mercutio: Fuck off, Tybalt!!!!!

Will Tosh: Sexual fascination 😍

I honestly doubt there was a sexual implication on Tybalt’s part. For one thing, Tybalt is consistently coolly polite to Mercutio, calling him “sir” and not getting riled up over his comments—at that point, he is solely focused on Romeo. He even ignores Mercutio when Romeo does appear. It would be strange for Tybalt to taunt him like this when Mercutio isn’t even his target.

If Mercutio indeed interpreted Tybalt’s “consort” as sexual, either intentional or not, then why would Mercutio foreground the musical meaning? Mercutio did not hesitate before in speaking bluntly about sex. Is Tosh really saying that Mercutio “IDGAF” Escalus would keep his speech PG before the likes of Tybalt?????

Also, also, Tosh deliberately obscures the fact that before this scene, Mercutio was ragging on poor Benvolio, accusing him of being a hothead. I think it’s more likely that Mercutio would seize upon any excuse to fight Tybalt than truly believe Tybalt is calling him gay for Romeo.

I guess Tosh is angling for a closeted Mercutio with internalized homophobia. But to me, Mercutio’s fury can be interpreted as part of his typically macho homophobia. After all, Mercutio did describe Tybalt as a mincing poseur before, which has undercurrents of him not considering Tybalt as very manly. Perhaps he believes Tybalt’s “consort” comment is sexual, not because of Mercutio’s supposed closeted sexuality, but suspicion of Tybalt’s own. Tosh never brings up these possibilities, making this *gestures vaguely* analysis all the more unconvincing.