Now it's been decades since I read Carlyle's biography (my grandfather had a - shortened - German edition in his library), but here's the irony: he had no problem being wary of Wilhelmine as a source when it came to her actual criticism of her brother, pointing out that the memoirs were written during their three years enstragement and thus likely coloured by her emotional state at that time. Otoh, I would caution against assuming homophobia, not least because Carlyle, cranky Scot that he was, didn't held back on the -isms he actually had, which were plenty, so if he'd any hangups in that direction he'd have ranted about them, not being coy. Plus the mid-Victorians, of which he was one, were actually wild about "passionate friendships" between men. (Think Tennyson's poem In Memoriam - and Tennyson was a friend.) Considering Carlyle's first biographer (also a friend) thought he (Carlyle) was impotent, his Albee-esque marriage to Jane Welch not withstanding, it's more likely that if C thought about Fritz' sexuality at all, he considered him a fellow asexual (not in those terms; I'm always trying to avoid putting current-day framings of sexuality into historical figures' heads), basically seeing his hero Above It All.
Back to Wilhelmine for a moment, I've just listened to one of those exchanges which make me salute her, when she and Fritz are discussing new books - these two were such endearing geeks in that regard, constantly talking about music and books in between news and family drama:
W: Have just come across a book that really made me furios. The author says women are not capable of rational thought, only men are. So we've been put on a level with sheep.
F: Gotta agree with the author. You, dearest sis, are of course an exception and Not Like Other Girls, but then I don't consider you a woman. You are one of the first men of Europe.
W: Thanks but no thanks. I'm a woman. I don't want to be thought as an exception. (literal quote is "I don't want to be held apart from my sisters"). Maybe rethink your criteria?
F: *changes subject*
Then there's this gem:
W: OMG have just heard you wrote to Voltaire and HE WROTE YOU BACK! A-plus fanboy achievement, bro. I'm so envious. But, um. Gossip says you've also invited him. Are you sure that's wise? He's supposed to a bit on the vain side in person, not quite living up to his writings.
F: Pffff. I'm also interest in him for his writings, don't care about his personal quirks at all, what could possibly go wrong?
And, around 1737:
W: Have just heard rumors that Mom and Dad have done a 180%. She's supposed to have gone religious while he's supposed to have discovered music. What the hell?
F: Don't worry, it's not true. Mom's no more religious than before and Dad has discovered painting, not music. That can still be our thing.
BTW, they always refer to their parents as "the King" and "The Queen", never as their mother and father. But to be fair, that might be writing custom of the day as much as reflecting their emotions, considering Wilhelmine refers to her husband first as "the Prince" and then, after his father's death, as "The Margrave", never by his first name or as "my husband". Fritz the very few times he mentions her refers to Elisabeth Christine as "the Crown Princess", but that's less surprising. Oh and, one of these times is a downright sympathetic reference, when telling Wilhelmine "Potsdam and Berlin are hell right now, the King is having a go at me again, and even the Crown Princess has lost nearly all her standing with him and gets similar treatment".
Re: Tragic ship
Back to Wilhelmine for a moment, I've just listened to one of those exchanges which make me salute her, when she and Fritz are discussing new books - these two were such endearing geeks in that regard, constantly talking about music and books in between news and family drama:
W: Have just come across a book that really made me furios. The author says women are not capable of rational thought, only men are. So we've been put on a level with sheep.
F: Gotta agree with the author. You, dearest sis, are of course an exception and Not Like Other Girls, but then I don't consider you a woman. You are one of the first men of Europe.
W: Thanks but no thanks. I'm a woman. I don't want to be thought as an exception. (literal quote is "I don't want to be held apart from my sisters"). Maybe rethink your criteria?
F: *changes subject*
Then there's this gem:
W: OMG have just heard you wrote to Voltaire and HE WROTE YOU BACK! A-plus fanboy achievement, bro. I'm so envious. But, um. Gossip says you've also invited him. Are you sure that's wise? He's supposed to a bit on the vain side in person, not quite living up to his writings.
F: Pffff. I'm also interest in him for his writings, don't care about his personal quirks at all, what could possibly go wrong?
And, around 1737:
W: Have just heard rumors that Mom and Dad have done a 180%. She's supposed to have gone religious while he's supposed to have discovered music. What the hell?
F: Don't worry, it's not true. Mom's no more religious than before and Dad has discovered painting, not music. That can still be our thing.
BTW, they always refer to their parents as "the King" and "The Queen", never as their mother and father. But to be fair, that might be writing custom of the day as much as reflecting their emotions, considering Wilhelmine refers to her husband first as "the Prince" and then, after his father's death, as "The Margrave", never by his first name or as "my husband". Fritz the very few times he mentions her refers to Elisabeth Christine as "the Crown Princess", but that's less surprising. Oh and, one of these times is a downright sympathetic reference, when telling Wilhelmine "Potsdam and Berlin are hell right now, the King is having a go at me again, and even the Crown Princess has lost nearly all her standing with him and gets similar treatment".