Hero and Leander

Marlowe's 'Hero and Leander' (1598) is about physical love, sexual discovery, and desire. How many instances of desire can you identify in the poem? Think of how desire is articulated, think of the subject and object of desire and what the consequences of desire are in each case.

• Look at Rubens' painting below based on Musaeus' account (partly based on Ovid) of the Hero and Leander myth. How is the body depicted? Why? How stable and fixed are the bodies in the painting?   (For more information on the painting you can read this article online here)

Peter Paul Rubens, Hero and Leander I

Read again lines 663-676 from 'Hero and Leander' and think about bodies and fluidity of gender.

The god put Helle's braclet on his arm,
And swore the sea should never do him harm.
He clapped his plump cheeks, with his tresses played,
And, smiling wantonly, his love bewrayed.
He watched his arms, and as they opened wide,
At every stroke betwixt them he would slide
And steal a kiss, and then run out and dance
And, as he turned, cast many a lustful glance
And throw him gaudy toys to please his eye,
And dive into the water and there pry
Upon his breast, his thighs, and every limb,
And up again and close beside him swim,
And talk of love. Leander made reply,
"You are deceived; I am no woman, I."

• The extract below is from Ben Jonson's comedy Bartholomew Fair  (1614). Hero and Leander's story is reenacted in a puppet show. How does the stage's treatment of the story differ to Marlowe's poem? (You can find the whole play here)

Cok. Well, we have seen't, and thou hast felt it, what- soever thou sayest. What's next? what's next?    Lea. This while young Leander, with fair Hero is drink- <! hypen dropped down to underline position >   ing,  and Hero grown drunk, to any mans thinking! Yet was it not three Pints of Sherry could flaw her,  till Cupid distinguish'd like Jonas the Drawer, From under his Apron, where his lechery lurks,  put love in her Sack. Now mark how it works.    Puppet  Hero. O Leander Leander, my dear my dear Leander, I'll for ever be thy Goose, so thou'lt be my Gander.    Cok. Excellently well said, Fiddle, she'll ever be his Goose, so he'll be her Gander: was't not so?    Lan. Yes, Sir, but mark his answer, now.    Puppet Leander. And sweetest of Geese, before I go to Bed, I'll swim o're the Thames, my Goose, thee to tread.    Cok. Brave! he will swim o're the Thames, and tread his Goose to night, he says.    Lan. I, peace, Sir, they'll be angry, if they hear you eaves-dropping, now they are setting their match.    Puppet Leander. But lest the Thames should be dark, my Goose,       my dear Friend,          let thy Window be provided of a Candles end.    Puppet Hero. Fear not, my Gander, I protest, I should handle       my matters very ill, if I had not a whole Candle.    Puppet Leander. Well then, look to't, and kiss me to Boot.