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Chapter 2 - Humbled Beginnings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2023

Michael Pope
Michael Pope
Affiliation:
Brigham Young University, Utah
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Summary

The chapter takes us to the moment of biological conception and explores the question of male autonomy in embryonic fertilization and development. We will follow Lucretius’ lead into the reproductive organs of men and women to show how generative material supplied by female and male sexual partners both competes and cooperates at conception. What Lucretius reveals in forceful language and imagery is that men are impotent in the face of universal physics and that female reproductive assertiveness gives the lie to exclusive male dominion from the moment when genetic material from both parents first coheres in utero.

Keywords

Lucretiusembryologysemenejaculationmasculinitydominationreceptivityeffeminateuterusembryogenesisparturition
Type
Chapter
Information
Lucretius and the End of Masculinity , pp. 35 - 56
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Humbled Beginnings
  • Michael Pope, Brigham Young University, Utah
  • Book: Lucretius and the End of Masculinity
  • Online publication: 11 May 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009242349.002
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • Humbled Beginnings
  • Michael Pope, Brigham Young University, Utah
  • Book: Lucretius and the End of Masculinity
  • Online publication: 11 May 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009242349.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Humbled Beginnings
  • Michael Pope, Brigham Young University, Utah
  • Book: Lucretius and the End of Masculinity
  • Online publication: 11 May 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009242349.002
Available formats
×