University of Virginia Library

Latent Desires

What has made everyone
take Mr. Gorman's letter
seriously? It was obviously a
hlague, or Mr. Gorman has
some serious problems. The
most prominent of these is
revealed by the sexual
implications in his description
of his niece.

He attributes to her "long
brown limbs" and "a tender
bosom." What does "brown"
mean? Either she is black, very
tanned, or Mr. Gorman is
exaggerating the beauty of his
virtuous niece. If I believed this
letter to be authentic, I would
be forced to reveal Mr.
Gorman's own latent
incestuous desires.