Thoughts about Rupert and Michael

[Nicholas]

The interest in Rupert's Thala has made me think again about the relationship between the two boys.  Without getting too involved, water is usually a metaphor for the unconscious, the creative process or perhaps  the spiritual journey from darkness to light, and so Rupert uses it.  But judging from his sonnet, in Michael's mind the imagination is a place of ghosts and terror.  We may represent  the relationship quite simply as Michael saying to Rupert: "I am frightened", and Rupert replying: "There is nothing to be frightened of," which worked very well for both of them as Michael grew out of his fear and Rupert found a use for his own experiences.  Unfortunately they both underestimated how powerfully destructive the disturbed mind can be.

[yrrab]

Quite what was going on between Michael and Rupert is anybody's guess but I do suspect that their relationship was that of lovers and given the times and the homophobia manifest in England since Victoria’s reign I can well imagine  them becoming unbalanced, especially when you couple this with the passion of youthful love.