This is an excerpt from Renate Stendhal's introduction to
_Gertrude Stein In Words and Pictures_. I'm not sure how
much it will help, but the explanation of terms follows
what was said about "Caesar.":
"There certainly is ample evidence in Stein's writing that
she pleased herself in the sexual role of the 'husband."
But this is a husband whose 'wife has a cow.'...The term
'cow' covers a whole range of taboo topics ('sacred cows')
of traditional writing: female sexual organs, desire, and
above all orgasm. For example: 'Cows are very nice. They
are between legs' ('All Sunday'); 'Yes tenderness grows and
it grows where it grows. And do you like it. Yes you do.
And does it fill a cow full of filling. Yes. And where
does it come out of. It comes out of the way of the
Caesars...And the cow comes out of the door. Do you adore
me. When this you see remember me' ('A Sonatina Followed by
Another'). The romance clearly is of a bodily, orgasmic
nature. Pleasing Alice seems to have been a prime concern
of 'husband' Stein: 'Have Caesars a duty. Yes their duty is
to a cow. Will they do their duty by the cow. Yes now and
with pleasure.' ('A Sonatina'). A line in 'Lifting Belly'
ironically demands, 'Husband obey your wife.' Role-play and
role reversal should not be confused with fixed gender
stereotypes. If patriarchal patterns are played out, they
are played out with gusto, ad absurdum."
--- "lou L." <ladylouba@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Although, I am a die hard Gertrude Stein fan. This poem
> is one I can not
> quite grasp. I can honestly say, I do not know what is
> going on-
> What about Caesars? What does the cow signify? I have
> read it about five
> times in the last month. I found it's tone to be one of
> playful domestic
> bliss, but I can not figure out the underlining meanings
>
> Looking for feedback ideas and explanations
>
> thanks!
> Ladylouba@hotmail.com
>
>
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