Sodom, or the Quintessence of Debauchery
Encyclopedia
Sodom is an obscene Restoration
closet drama
, published in 1684. The work has been attributed to John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
., though its authorship is disputed . Determining the date of composition and attribution are complicated owing mostly to misattribution of evidence for and against Rochester's authorship in Restoration and later texts.
as an acceptable sexual practice within the realm:
General Buggeranthos reports that this policy is welcomed by the soldiers, who spend less on prostitutes as a consequence, but has deleterious effects on women of the kingdom who have recourse to "dildoes and dogs". With the court and country reduced to erotic madness, the court physician counsels: "Fuck women, and let Bugg'ry be no more". The king himself, however is unconvinced, and - amid the appearance of demons, fire, and brimstone - declares his intention to retire to a cave and die in the act of sodomising his favorite - Pockenello.
and especially of his apparent willingness to tolerate Catholicism
in England
at a time when that religion was officially proscribed. Written presumably at the time of Charles's 1672 Declaration of Indulgence
(which promulgated official toleration of Catholics and others), Sodom delineates in its racy plot a king much like Charles whose insistence on promoting his sexual preference for sodomy can be read as an analogue to the debate in England at the time about the king's real motive in pushing religious toleration.
In the film The Libertine, Johnny Depp
, as Rochester, is seen staging Sodom in front of an outraged Charles II, with Rochester taking the role of the King of Sodom.
, which means it has not had a major performance for centuries, the play will be revived at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011 by the Movement Theatre Company
, in what is described as a "reconstructed" version.
Restoration literature
Restoration literature is the English literature written during the historical period commonly referred to as the English Restoration , which corresponds to the last years of the direct Stuart reign in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland...
closet drama
Closet drama
A closet drama is a play that is not intended to be performed onstage, but read by a solitary reader or, sometimes, out loud in a small group. A related form, the "closet screenplay," developed during the 20th century.-Form:...
, published in 1684. The work has been attributed to John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester , styled Viscount Wilmot between 1652 and 1658, was an English Libertine poet, a friend of King Charles II, and the writer of much satirical and bawdy poetry. He was the toast of the Restoration court and a patron of the arts...
., though its authorship is disputed . Determining the date of composition and attribution are complicated owing mostly to misattribution of evidence for and against Rochester's authorship in Restoration and later texts.
Plot
The play consists of five acts in rhyming couplets. There are two prologues, two epilogues and a short final speech. The play begins with Bolloxinion, King of Sodom, authorising same-sex sodomySodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
as an acceptable sexual practice within the realm:
I do proclaim, that buggery may be used
O'er all the land, so cunt be not abused.
General Buggeranthos reports that this policy is welcomed by the soldiers, who spend less on prostitutes as a consequence, but has deleterious effects on women of the kingdom who have recourse to "dildoes and dogs". With the court and country reduced to erotic madness, the court physician counsels: "Fuck women, and let Bugg'ry be no more". The king himself, however is unconvinced, and - amid the appearance of demons, fire, and brimstone - declares his intention to retire to a cave and die in the act of sodomising his favorite - Pockenello.
Cast
- Bolloxinion - King of Sodom
- Cuntigratia - His Queen
- Pricket - Young Prince
- Swivia - Princess
- Buggeranthos - General of the Army
- Pockenello - Prince and Favorite of the King
- Borastus - Buggermaster-general
- Pine & Twely - Pimps of Honour
- Officina - Maid of Honour
- Fuckadilla - Maid of Honour
- Cunticulla - Maid of Honour
- Clytoris - Maid of Honour
- Flux - Physician to the King
- Vertuso - Dildo and Merkin maker to the Court
Interpretation
Sodom merits attention not just as an early piece of scabrous literature, but also as a disguised satire on the court of Charles IICharles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
and especially of his apparent willingness to tolerate Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at a time when that religion was officially proscribed. Written presumably at the time of Charles's 1672 Declaration of Indulgence
Royal Declaration of Indulgence
The Royal Declaration of Indulgence was Charles II of England's attempt to extend religious liberty to Protestant nonconformists and Roman Catholics in his realms, by suspending the execution of the penal laws that punished recusants from the Church of England...
(which promulgated official toleration of Catholics and others), Sodom delineates in its racy plot a king much like Charles whose insistence on promoting his sexual preference for sodomy can be read as an analogue to the debate in England at the time about the king's real motive in pushing religious toleration.
In the film The Libertine, Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
, as Rochester, is seen staging Sodom in front of an outraged Charles II, with Rochester taking the role of the King of Sodom.
Performance History
Popularly classified as closet dramaCloset drama
A closet drama is a play that is not intended to be performed onstage, but read by a solitary reader or, sometimes, out loud in a small group. A related form, the "closet screenplay," developed during the 20th century.-Form:...
, which means it has not had a major performance for centuries, the play will be revived at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011 by the Movement Theatre Company
The Movement (theatre company)
The Movement is a theatre company formed at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, UK in 2009. It has moved from amateur to professional productions over the last two years.-Company history:...
, in what is described as a "reconstructed" version.