John E. Hankins in his interesting article, “Hamlet's ‘God Kissing Carrion’: a Theory of the Generation of Life” (PMLA, LXIV, 507-516) suggests a possible theological interpretation to the lines: “For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion [or ‘god, kissing carrion’] …” (II, ii, 181). He points out that the belief in the generative power of the sun was not merely a pagan concept and (p. 515) quotes from Alanus de Insulis to show that the worm born in putrifying flesh by the power of the sun was regarded by mediæval theologians as a symbol representing Christ, who was born of carnal flesh and without masculine seed.