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

[Lady Laura]

Sorry for drifting I think you both made good points, and its given me even more to think about!

So back to topic... I liked how Hobb dealt with the homosexual storylines in RWC. I have some small issues with them, but I think a lot of people tend to be extra critical when it comes to portraying gay people in books. I personally am critical of that in books, as well as the portrayal of women, relationships (hetro and homosexual) and other things.

I perosnally would have enjoyed reading more about Sedric, there's still a lot about him I feel I don't know. But obviously that's because he interested me the most out of the characters, and I was rooting for him to overcome Hest's control from the start of DK.

I think on a basic level, some people may see Hobb's portrayal of Hest as a typically "bad" sterotype of an overly dominant, cruel gay man. And Sedric could be seen on a basic level as the weak, submissive gay stereotype. I actually read quite a few reviews of the RWC, where the reviewer thought Hobb was giving a negative portrayal of gays. It made me wonder if they had been reading the books properly, or if they had actually finished them. I think Hobb was showing that gay people are just as likely to be weak or cruel as straight people are. And in terms of Sedric being weak, he grows stronger and developes considerably by the end of DH, just as any straight characer might develope and overcome their problems. So although at a first glane, it may seem that Hobb is stereotyping her gay characters, I think there is a lot more to it than that!