The Dragon Keeper "Controversial?" Hobb and sexuality. *Major Spoilers up to RWC!

[Farseer]

The thing about the relationship between Beloved and Fitz was that it remained unrequited and unconsummated. While I have no problem with this, I can see why Hobb wanted to include a physical, sexual relationship between two men in a subsequent story. Otherwise, she might have been accused of cowardice. Maybe this "making a point" but it is a point worth making, in my opinion.

Well said, maulkin !

As for the number of gay characters in the Kelsingra expedition, there were four: Sedric, Davvie, Carson and one of the keepers (whose name I can't remember off the top of my head). Davvie was brought along by Carson because he was gay. Carson found himself in the position of a loner with no family and few ties to society also because he was gay. Sedric found himself accompanying Alise to Kelsingra as a result of his relationship with Hest i.e. because he was gay. The only character who just happened to be gay was the keeper and in his case, it is not clear that he was exclusively homosexual. He might have been bisexual and just happened to fall for Davvie, rather than one of the female characters. Hobb chose to make homosexuality a theme of this story and included several gay characters to play out that theme.

I agree with this (and do so even on the basis that, during the reading of RWC, I also had to confront my own beliefs and principles on the issue of homosexuality in a way in which I did not have to with Fool and Fitz). As an aside, while it could be said that even * spoiler Liveship Traders *

Spoiler

Kennit had desired or considered a homosexual relationship with Wintrow, and eventually acted out this desire with the raping of Althea, I would say that Kennit's issue was most likely more about the cycle of violence, sexual abuse and eventually even incest, rather than that of homosexuality?

I think it may also be important to remember that most of these gay characters were citizens of Chalced (at least, I believe they were?!). At the very least they had an interest of sorts in the Chalcedian way of life, and, as with the citizens of Jamaillia, they most likely held to different social standards than those adhered to by the majority of citizens residing elsewhere in the RotE, as we know it? In this, I believe that their inclusion in the plot gave us yet another small glimpse of the mysterious Chalced!

What I found particularly interesting was the lack of opinion on homosexuality from Sedric and Carson's dragons...