SOURCE: "Gender Confusion and Sexual Politics in The Two Noble Kinsmen" in Drama, Sex and Politics, Cambridge University Press, 1985, pp. 69-76.

In this essay, originally a paper presented at the Themes in Drama International Conference in 1983, Abrams discusses sexual confusion in the play, and examines the character of Emilia "as representative of 'The Powers of all women. ' "

Ascribed to Fletcher and Shakespeare by its 1634 title page, The Two Noble Kinsmen has been cheated of a broad audience by its checkered reception-history, including a long dusty chapter of collection among the works of Beaumont and Fletcher. But lately it has been reappearing on the stage and in Shakespeare anthologies, and despite the unresolved authorship question I think we can look forward to its incorporation—at least for purposes of critical discussion—in the canon in the near future. When that happens, analogies with better-known Shakespearian plays are bound...