Though I know Marlowe’s lines in Hero and Leander reflect the conventional social wisdom of his time, I found myself pretty bothered by some of the generalizations he made about women in this poem, and in his characterization of Hero herself. He presents Hero as a stereotypical “tease,” apparently always saying “no” when she means “yes” and relishing in the blood of her failed suitors that stains her skirt. When juxtaposed with Marlowe’s abhorrence of the rapacious actions of Jove, I found myself a bit confused about Marlowe’s view of the role of a woman’s consent in sexual relations, as it seemed impossible for Hero, and all women, to have her answer of “no” taken seriously when a man asked, or attempted to take, something of her body. Did anyone else get this vibe? And, if so, what does it say about women’s sexual agency in sixteenth century England?