ABSTRACT
Scattered throughout Shelley’s writings we find many indications of his bisexual disposition. For example, his heroes, Laon, Athanase, and his heroines, Laone, Beatrice, etc., each combine masculine energy and intellect with a feminine grace and gentleness. His ideal of human beauty as of character, was bisexual, as can be seen from his comments on the Greek sculpture in Italy. 1 His highest praise is given to the statues of adolescent boys— a Ganymede, an Apollo : “ It was difficult to conceive anything more delicately beautiful than the Ganymede ; but the spirit-like lightness, the softness, the flowing perfection of these forms, surpass it. The countenance, though exquisite, lovely, and gentle, is not divine. There is a womanish vivacity of winning yet passive 89happiness, and yet a boyish inexperience exceedingly delightful.” On an Olinthus, he remarks :
