Unseen Academicals - Revelation!

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poohcarrot

Sergeant-at-Arms
Sep 13, 2009
8,317
2,300
NOT The land of the risen Son!!
#21
Hi Bushman 74

Professor Bengo is gay. Madame Sharn is a male dwarf dressing up as a woman and is gay. Pepe, I'm not sure about because there doesn't appear to be enough information, but I assume he used to be Madame Sharn's lover but now abstains from sex.
 

Penfold

Sergeant-at-Arms
Dec 29, 2009
9,038
3,050
Worthing
www.lenbrookphotography.com
#24
Hellooo and welcome from me too :)

Bushman74 said:
Help! I am new to this (forum postings) so I hope this works.
Don't worry, I was new to all this forum (and internet) stuff when I joined but you soon get the hang of it. Just have fun! :laugh: If you have any questions, just ask (Not that some of the replies will make any sense tho ;) )
 

Draywoman

Lance-Constable
Jan 23, 2010
48
1,650
Forest of Dean
#25
Welcome Bushman. No doubt about it, Pterry is playing to stereotypes with a world of women's fashion dominated by gay men/male dwarves. The twist is that these two are far from rarified fashionista's but more streetwise and tricksy.

As for Bengo Macarona, I thought the implication was that he was, ahem, ambidextrous, as it were :oops:. in fact, open to new and exciting experiences of any species or gender...

Ooh, Matron!
 

Herron451

New Member
Aug 14, 2010
6
1,650
#26
Hi all. Long time reader of the books but new to your forum here. (long time listener, first time caller)
I agree about the professor, and acknowledge that Pepe is both human (dwarf by adoption sort of thing) and a right bastard, but I am almost as confused about his sexual identity as I was about my own once upon a time. Is he bi, gay, or straight, simply acting a part for the purpose of sales?
And regarding Madame Sharn where do you reach the conclusion that she is a cross dresser and not "truly" female? What hints give this away?

It seems strange, but I really want Pepe to be gay, as he is a beautifully stereotype shattering character if he is. Kinda like Willem Defoe in Boondock Saints.
BTW, Draywoman, you have an AWESOME tagline. :laugh:
 

poohcarrot

Sergeant-at-Arms
Sep 13, 2009
8,317
2,300
NOT The land of the risen Son!!
#27
Hi and welcome Herron

Page 386 Unseen Academicals Hard back.

Pepe: I've never seen such a large cheeseboard. It almost makes celibacy seem worthwhile.
Madame Sharn: Oh, do you think so?
Pepe: No. By the way, have you noticed that very tall wizard giving you the eye, my dear?
Madame Sharn: That's professor Bengo Macarona. (who is gay) Do you think he -
Pepe: Without a shadow of doubt, my dear. I know he's hurt his legs, but I doubt if that would be a problem.

Page 388

Pepe: I am an old bugger. I am a sod.
 

Herron451

New Member
Aug 14, 2010
6
1,650
#28
Y'know, oddly enough, I read that over a couple of times and just never clicked it fully. lol

And the Bugger statement I took to mean more of the generic vulgarity form of the word, rather than the literal sense. But i guess with everything else it makes more sense literally.
And thank you for the welcome as well
 
Sep 4, 2010
6
1,650
Isle of Wight
#32
Hi to you all,

Thank you for opening my eyes to another aspect of Unseen Academicals. I had seen it as commentary on class stereotyping, and very much as a prequel, but the gender issues passed me by. Ach y fi!
 

One Man Bucket

Lance-Corporal
Oct 8, 2010
157
2,275
#34
Generally speaking, if a dwarf says they're female they probably are but with the whole parody of the fashion industry it's possible Sharn is merely fabulous. We can never know his/her until he/she bares all.
 

high eight

Lance-Corporal
Dec 28, 2009
398
2,275
66
The Back of Beyond
#35
Herron451 said:
Hi all. Long time reader of the books but new to your forum here. (long time listener, first time caller)
I agree about the professor, and acknowledge that Pepe is both human (dwarf by adoption sort of thing) and a right bastard, but I am almost as confused about his sexual identity as I was about my own once upon a time. Is he bi, gay, or straight, simply acting a part for the purpose of sales?
My own feeling is that Pepe plays the part of a flamboyant effeminate gay because that is what is expected of him as a fashionista. Underneath the surface, Pepe is a hard embittered working class lad made good with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. And still gay.

But that's just my opinion. o_O
 

The rat

Lance-Corporal
Apr 18, 2009
247
1,775
Bad Blintz
#36
You know I have read this book 3 times and listen to it about 6 times and I knew that Pepe was in love with Madame, but I never thought in a million years that they were both gay until I read this thread.

I had an idea that Pepe was gay or maybe Bi since you don't know what sex dwarfs were and Pepe could like that bisexual bend to it. And I wondered why if Madame was straight why was she interested in Bendigo. Now knowing about the 'Bugger and sod' it makes sense. I guess being a Yank (no pun intended) I missed out on that.

Now the book makes more sense and I might need to read it again soon.

The only thing that confuses me is when Madame is telling Glenda about being a female as a King, but being a Queen then he/she is king. But that makes sense. Being an old 'Queen'! OH! an A-HA moment! An Old QUEEN!!!!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

This is why I love Terry. All the little hidden gems and Jewels ( ;)) you can find after many readings and picking aparts!
 

dennykay

Lance-Corporal
Apr 21, 2011
101
1,775
Berlin, Germany
#37
Exp. Date said:
You know I have read this book 3 times and listen to it about 6 times and I knew that Pepe was in love with Madame, but I never thought in a million years that they were both gay until I read this thread.

I had an idea that Pepe was gay or maybe Bi since you don't know what sex dwarfs were and Pepe could like that bisexual bend to it. And I wondered why if Madame was straight why was she interested in Bendigo. Now knowing about the 'Bugger and sod' it makes sense. I guess being a Yank (no pun intended) I missed out on that.

Now the book makes more sense and I might need to read it again soon.

The only thing that confuses me is when Madame is telling Glenda about being a female as a King, but being a Queen then he/she is king. But that makes sense. Being an old 'Queen'! OH! an A-HA moment! An Old QUEEN!!!!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

This is why I love Terry. All the little hidden gems and Jewels ( ;)) you can find after many readings and picking aparts!

that, in a nutshell.


now i'm only waiting for a discussion about the agony aunts' sex, somehow they always read male to me.
 

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