Re: my last meta post and how Hunt might react to finding out about Amelia/Violet … For what it’s worth, although I certainly don’t think he’d be THRILLED about it, and although I definitely think that the social and interpersonal consequences of discovery for our ladies could be significant, I think the situation is not as concretely dangerous for them as one might fear. 

Specifically: in the past, I’ve seen posts and comments worrying that Josiah might react by actually arresting, imprisoning, or otherwise taking legal action against Violet and/or Amelia on the basis of their relationship — in other words, on the basis of their sexuality. It’s an understandable fear, given he’s got such standing in the legal system. After all, we just heard Rasselas say in 2.05 that the new justice is hanging “his kind.” Surely that’s a clear demonstration of how Hunt responds to homosexuality in general, right?

…But not necessarily, though? Idk, this got long and a little meandering, so ramblings about the legality of certain actions and Hunt’s established modus operandi vis-a-vis legality vs. morality under the cut.

Weiterlesen

Not technically an expert either (just a random cultural studies undergrad with a focus on queer studies and 19th century britain) but I did recently write a term paper about the persecution of sodomy in the 18th and 19th. You’re 100% correct in saying that the sodomy laws (under which anal penetration, among other things, was punishable by death) would not apply to women having sex with each other. Being gay just wasn’t a thing back then and people didn’t really want to admit that women might have a sex drive anyway so lesbians would not have been executed or imprisioned because of their relationships. They could be ruined socially, which would ultimately lead to the same fate as being sentenced to death, but that’s another story.

The thing I want to throw in is that if Hunt finds out about them after the marriage, he would have the “good” right to have Amelia thrown into an asylum to “cure” her from her “unnatural behaviour” (damn those are a lot of air quotes in on sentence lmao). I really hope they won’t go there because 18th century asylums are pretty much worse then a death sentence - but it’s important to keep in mind how much power Hunt has over Amelia and Violet.

I’m actually somewhat intruiged to see how the show will approach that - imminent - reveal. The fact that Rasselas alluded to the prosecution of male-male sexuality makes me curious as to whether of not the show will return to the subject.

Harlots: Season 2- Episode 1 & 2

Let’s dust off and get it rolling! Open to anyone at all, just tagging some folks who showed interested in conversation. Answer a few, answer all of them. You decide! Reblog with your answers.

1) Going into season two, which characters/relationships were you most excited to see more from?

2) When the episode opens, we see that the conflict between Margaret and Will is reaching a boiling point. What are your thoughts on this relationship? Is Harriet playing a part in their downfall?

3) Charlotte is digging in her heels at Lydia’s because she believes she can beat her at her own game. Is she misguided? Or can she best Lydia Quigley?

4) What do you think is the root of Lydia’s treatment of Charlotte? Do you think it relates to Margaret and Lydia’s past?

5) Should Charlotte have bailed out Lydia?

6) What do you think of this new side of Lucy we are seeing?

7) Margaret is isolating herself from the people that she loves. What do you think of Margaret Wells? Was Nancy right? Was this isolation inevitable? Are there things that Margaret is right about?

8) What do you think of Amelia’s pleas to the judge? Was she right or wrong to put Violet in that position?

9) Motherhood is a strong current throughout the show. What do you think of the conflict that is created by these various mothers attempting in their various ways to protect their children?

10) What is your opinion of Lydia Quigley? Does it shift at all as we find out more about her involvement with Margaret and Nancy?

*Extra) If you watch Mum, HOW INSANE IS IT TO WATCH LESLEY MANVILLE TRANSFORM INTO LYDIA QUIGLEY? (Needed fangirl for a moment).

@appletrade @dianefuckinglockhart @midworldlanes @ladyoftheunderworld @simaraknows @lemonadeona90degreeday @nettlekettle @fletcherslayer @queenoftherebels @afinpassing

1.) I was most intruiged to see how Amelia’s and Violet’s relationsphip would develop and whether the friendship between Amelia and Prince Rasellas (my boy finally got mentioned by name in S02E01, I’m so proud of the writers, I’ve been waiting for that ever since the season 1 premiere lmao) would come back up.

2.) Eh... meh? The pacing of that story-line felt a little off. I liked the two of them tggether and don’t really want to see them fight or break-up for good. I assume that they’ll end up back together and I get that the writers wanted to stress just how abandoned Margaret is at that point of the story but it didn’t feel well executed to me. Also, don’t hurt Harriet. Just don’t.

3.) I’m honestly intruiged to see where this is going. Charlotte is clearly playing the long game and I fear that she should have played her cards while Lydia was in jail instead. I wouldn’t bet on either of them just yet, they’re both very clever, manipulating women.

4.) In a way, probably. She’s also been thoroughly disapointed by her son, whom she used to adore and I think that Charlotte managed to insert herself very neatly into the whole that Charles left behind. We should also remember that Lydia is growing old and I think we saw that the thought of being utterly abandoned actually scares her, even more so then Margaret.

6.) SOMEONE GOT MA GIRL A HAIR-TIE!!! No, seriously, I was so happy when I realized that she’ll actually get a more period-typical hair-do. The 1760s are nowhere near my area of expertise so I can’t really judge how historically accurate the costumes are (which is a relief, y’all, I’m so nit-picky when it comes to that) but her hair in season 1 drove me mad anyway. Apart from that, I don’t have too many opinions on Lucy. We didn’t get too see much of her so far and I’m never quite sure where her character is supposed to be headed.

7.) *deep sight* I cannot hate Margaret, no matter how many stupid things she does. I think it’s her own damn fault that people turn their backs on her but she’s also under a lot of preassure. Her family and livelyhood are constantly at the brink of tragic downfall and you gotta cat her some slack for actually having gotten this far before having a break down.

8.) Listen, I don’t care how much Violet dislikes being in service, Amelia probably saved her live just there. Most convicts died during transportation. Amelia is in love with Violet, she does not want her to die, and I fully support that. 

9.) I really love how this show incorporates so many different themes of motherhood. It’s probably only natural to discuss these issues in a show that’s so thoroughly focused on the lives of women. Still, the way Harlots approaches it is really well thought through. There are so many parallels between the mother-child realtionships! Not just in their want to protect their children but also in their conflicts with them. Lydias break with Charles and Margaret’s break with Charlotte, for example, fit very neatly together, especially since Charlotte moves on to take Charles’ place.

10.) I like her as a character. Would I be sad to see her hang? Probably not. She’s very watchable but I don’t have much sympathy for her. I admire the writers for giving her some more depth this season, though. Those scenes in jail were really well written/acted.

thanks for tagging me I love ranting about stuff

Move on! Don’t pretend you’re our friend.

“Edward Hogg in Three Positions,” aka the ill-fated family reunion of Thomas Haxby, John Segundus, and Michael Godfrey

Insomuch as there could possibly be an explanation for this, see here.

Harlots is wonderful and here’s why you should watch it: