I'll take you one step further: I've long fostered a fan theory that all* of Shakespeare's Antonios are gay.
(waits at podium for the mumbling of r/shakespeare to die down.)
Okay, hear me out. There are four* Antonios in the canon - Twelfth Night, The Tempest, Merchant of Venice, and Much Ado.
(*Proteus' father in Two Gentlemen of Verona is also an Antonio, but he only has 35 lines in one scene of the play and TGoV was chronologically the first of these five plays written, so I think Billy put this chronology into place between TG (~1594) and MOV (~1596). And technically Mark Antony (JC, A&C) is also an Antonio, but come on.)
Let's look at the facts about our Antonios. Settle in; this could take a while. I'll probably split this out into multiple posts.
TWELFTH NIGHT
Antonio is the pirate who saves Sebastian from the wreck that separates the twins at the top of the play. We first meet them as Sebastian is telling Antonio not to follow him any further so that Sebby "may bear [his] evils alone: it were a bad recompense for [Antonio's] love, to lay any of them on" Antonio. Sebastian says his goodbyes and heads towards Orsino's court. As soon as Sebby steps off stage, Antonio soliloquies: I have many enemies in Orsino's court, Else would I very shortly see thee there. But, come what may, I do adore thee so, That danger shall seem sport, and I will go. Seems like an awful nice thing for a buddy to do, don't you think?
But wait, there's more. Much, much more.
When Antonio finally catches Sebastian, he says: I could not stay behind you: my desire, More sharp than filed steel, did spur me forth; And not all love to see you, though so much As might have drawn one to a longer voyage, But jealousy what might befall your travel, Being skilless in these parts; which to a stranger, Unguided and unfriended, often prove Rough and unhospitable: my willing love, The rather by these arguments of fear, Set forth in your pursuit. Desire more sharp than filed steel? Willing love? This isn't how Claudio and Benedict, or Romeo and Mercutio, or Berowne and Ferdinand talk to each other.
When they approach town, Sebastian wants to see the tourist traps of the city, while Antonio suggests they go straight to the hotel, despite the fact that it's mid afternoon. (Hmm.) When he sees Sebby really wants to go get his tourist on, Antonio gives him his wallet just in case Sebastian's "eye shall light upon some toy / [He] have desire to purchase," and in parting says: It doth not fit me. Hold, sir, here's my purse. In the south suburbs, at the Elephant, Is best to lodge: I will bespeak our diet, Whiles you beguile the time and feed your knowledge With viewing of the town: there shall you have me.
Have me? Okay. Does Mackers even tell Banquo when he can "have him?" Unless it wasn't in my edition, I don't think so.
When Sebastian doesn't come back, Antonio goes looking for him and finds Sebby's surprise twin Cesario about to have a duel with Sir Andrew. Antonio immediately draws his sword and jumps to his defense; when asked who he is and what stake he has in this fight, he replies: One, sir, that for his love dares yet do more Than you have heard him brag to you he will.
When Antonio is identified for his past crimes by an officer, he asks Cesario (who he mistakes for Sebastian) for the wallet he loaned him earlier. When Cesario doesn't have it and Antonio is being dragged off to jail, he curses Cesario with: Let me speak a little. This youth that you see here I snatch'd one half out of the jaws of death, Relieved him with such sanctity of love, And to his image, which methought did promise Most venerable worth, did I devotion.
"Relieved him with such sanctity of love?" What type of relief does can one give with love, and devotion? Probably just some punches on the shoulder and some noogies, right?
And finally, when all is about to be revealed, Antonio is brought before Orsino for trial and, to explain himself, refers to Cesario and says: Antonio never yet was thief or pirate, Though I confess, on base and ground enough, Orsino's enemy. A witchcraft drew me hither: That most ingrateful boy there by your side, From the rude sea's enraged and foamy mouth Did I redeem; a wreck past hope he was: His life I gave him and did thereto add My love, without retention or restraint, All his in dedication; for his sake Did I expose myself, pure for his love, Into the danger of this adverse town.
Love without retention or restraint? Such as, shedding the restraints of what they would consider to be the natural order of man and woman?
And then, in what's a pretty significant line, Orsino asks Antonio how long he's spent with Sebastian since the shipwreck, and Antonio says: ...for three months before No interim, not a minute's vacancy, Both day and night did we keep company. Not even by night? Interesting. Maybe they were just Thunder Buddies.
And then, when Olivia and Sebastian are revealed to be happily married, Antonio...doesn't have a line for the rest of the play.
Interesting.
To be continued...