Written while "banished" from court, The Old Arcadia is often interpreted as Sidney's advisory text to the Queen, offering character's his name sake (Philisides, Philanax), then endowing them with grounded advise. ... While he claims it was merely "absolute commandment" of his sister's desire, to be read only in her "idle times" the complexity and political relevance which provide a paradoxical base for gender construction would suggest that a much more serious message was being chronicled. ...

• Word Count: 1452
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Graduate