How does Shakespeare present relationships between men and women in The Winter's Tale, and how might a modern audience respond to these realtionships ?

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How does Shakespeare present relationships between men and women

in The Winter's Tale, and how might a modern audience respond to these realtionships ?

Relationships and marriages in one of the most important aspect of The Winter's Tale. The three main relationships in the play are Hermione and Leontes, Paulina and Antigonus, and Perdita and Florizel. They play an important role for the development of the plot, and the themes of renewal and rebirth. The first couple which appears in the play is Hermione and Leontes, but their relationship breaks down. We then see Paulina and Antigonus’ relationship and later Perdita's and Florizel's when the previous relationship ends by the death of Antigonus. We can say that the play is a camedy, because Hermione and Leontes finish the play with a successful reunion, Paulina remarries, and Perdita and Florizel are married. However, the play is also a tragedy because Antigonus and Mimilius both die, and also Hermione, temporarily. That is why The Winter's Tale is usually said to be a tragicomedy.

Hermione and Leontes’ relationship at the start of the play seems at first to be good and reciprocal. Leontes invites Hermione in conversation and to be actively part of court: “Tongue-tied, our queen? Speak you.” She understands that Leontes has to be dominating the couple in public: “I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until / You had drawn oaths from him to stay”.

It seems as though Hermione is a good subservient wife who plays a clear secondary role, but we will see that she also has her own opinions. Hermione’s previously mentioned words could be played in a quite satirical manner. She tells Leontes what to say to Polixenes, but at first she doesn’t speak directly to Polixenes. Therefore we see that she does pay attention to Leontes. Leontes is initially happy with this: “Well said, Hermione”, and we see Hermione is trying to make the marriage happy. We see Leontes’ paranoia has not started yet. It is clear that Hermione loves Leontes, and she does not quantify her love: “I love thee not a jar o’th’clock behind / What lady she her lord.”

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Leontes says bluntly “Stay your thanks a while, / And pay them when you part.” Hermione imitates Leontes, “pay your fees / When you depart, but in a playful tone. The playfulness in her tone shows how unsuspecting and unprepared she is for what will follow.

When Leontes learns that Hermione managed to make Polixenes stay, Leontes says,“At my request he would not.” This could be said quietly and coldly to show the start of Leontes’ jealousy. It is however possible that Leontes always speaks in this blunt manner whatever mood he is in.

When Hermione is on trial, ...

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