Although ‘The Winters Tale’ seems to challenge contemporary attitudes towards women, in the final analysis it affirms them, do you agree?

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English Literature Coursework

Question: - Although ‘The Winters Tale’ seems to challenge contemporary attitudes towards women, in the final analysis it affirms them, do you agree?

In ‘The Winters Tale’ there is arguments for both sides of this statement.  The play starts off with Leontes watching his wife, Hermione, and his best friend Polixenes talking to each other, he seems to think they are flirting and becomes jealous. He even worries that he is not the real father of his son Mamiillius. He says “Why that’s my bawcock. What! Hast smutched thy nose?  Leontes sees Hermione some how as his possession. At the time when this play was being written women did not have very many rights. This is shown by a quote which explains how suspected witches were treated, this treatment was inhumane and shows the lack of women’s rights “Having taken the suspected Witch, she is placed in the middle of a room upon a stool, or table, cross-legged, or in some other uneasy posture, to which if she submits not, she is then bound with cords; there she is watched and kept without meat or sleep for the space of 24 hours. . . A little hole is likewise made in the door for the imps to come in at; they that watch are taught to be ever and anon sweeping the room, and if they see any spiders or flies, to kill them, then they may be sure they are her imps." (John Gaule, 1646) Leontes thinks that Hermione shouldn’t be talking to Polixines without his permission.

        The fact that Leontes is challenging the honesty and fidelity of Hermione could be very damaging; if this had happened to a woman at the time of Shakespeare it would have been devastating to her.  In an essay written by Michael Hattaway entitled ‘Drama In Society’ it says “The virtue of a women depended on her chastity and fidelity” This means that if the sort of accusations Leontes is making were made then her life might as well be over.

        At this time many writers thought that women were inferior to men Sean McEvoy (2000) says “Many writers of the time asserted women’s inferiority to men. Some drew on the medieval tradition that blamed mankind’s fall on eve” Leonties thinks that Hermione is being tempted by Polixines, the way Eve was tempted. Another quote from Sean McEvoy showing the inferiority of women or at least how it was perceived by that society is “ Others thought a women was an incomplete man.”

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        The way in which Leontes brings Hermione to trial shows that he thinks of her as a possession. Male adultery at this time was acceptable but for the women to be the adulterer was very uncommon, and they were seen as being dangerous.

        At this time women did not get very much education, at least not in the formal sense, they were taught to sew and cook. This would have meant that it would be difficult for Hermione to defend herself when she was put in front of the court, as she would not be experienced in that type ...

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