Parenting is a main element of “The Winters Tale”. Discuss the contrast between Leontes, Hermione, Polixenes, the shepherd and the clown as parents.
Parenting is a main element of "The Winters Tale". Discuss the contrast between Leontes, Hermione, Polixenes, the shepherd and the clown as parents. As parents Leontes and Hermione have very different qualities as parents. Hermione is a strong character within the play and this quality helps to make her a strong and good mother. Leontes however has very different qualities. His jealousy and mistrust of his best friend Polixenes and his wife Hermione, along with his severe paranoia, make Leontes a poor parent. It is this attitude that makes him a poor parent. He mistrusts his own wife and this has a detrimental effect on them as a unit. However Leontes begins to redeem himself as the play progresses. In contrast to this couple the shepherd and the clown are extremely good parents. Even though these two are the same sex and much less well off than Leontes and Hermione they are much more effective as a parental unit. This is because the child that they are raising is a natural princess and it is in her genes to be a princess. I find it very interesting that Shakespeare chose to attribute the best parenting qualities to the parents who are of a lower social class. Leontes is the king of Sicilia. At the beginning of the play Leontes has one son named Mamillius and Leontes sees his son as the best thing in his life. Shakespeare portrays Leontes as an apparently stable and good
A Winter's Tale - Why is Leontes so jealous of Hermione and Polixenes and why does he think they are having an affair?
Nick Magill 30/09/03 Why is Leontes so jealous of Hermione and Polixenes and why does he think they are having an affair? By the time Leontes has become certain his suspicions that his wife is having an affair are true he is undoubtedly in the grip of a mental illness. This is the main reason behind the development of his jealousy of Polixenes. Leontes and Polixenes have been close friends since an early age but Leontes seems to forget this friendship whilst jealousy takes him over as he think he is seeing his wife moving away from him. The problem, ironically, is started by Leontes. Leontes is desperate for Polixenes to stay longer with him in Sicily but Polixenes refuses on the grounds that he has a child back in Bohemia and that he must go home and be an active king again. Leontes fails to tempt Polixenes into staying an extra few weeks due to the blunt way in which he tries to persuade Polixenes. For example Leontes says simply "Stay your thanks a while, and pay them when you part" without making an effort at arguing why he would like Polixenes to stay. Leontes then invites his wife to try persuading Polixenes to stay. She succeeds in talking Polixenes round into staying. This is the first point at which Leontes feels there is some kind of chemistry between Polixenes and Hermione and the start of his jealousy towards the two. Leontes feels that Polixenes is only
Character Analysis of Queen Hermione
Character Analysis Essay: Queen Hermione of Sicilia. Queen Hermione of Sicilia is one of the main characters of Shakespeare's play "The Winter's Tale". She is the wife of King Leontes of Sicilia and mother of Prince Mamillius. Her pregnancy and closeness to Leontes' childhood friend King Polixenes of Bohemia causes her husband to become delusional with jealousy and consequently lock her away where she gives birth to her second child (A girl named Perdita), only to be held in trial and proven innocent by the "oracle". Though still pledged guilty and, eventually is said to be dead after the declaration of her son's sudden death. Which in order lead to the continuous events of the play, her characteristics are quite noticeable even with her lack of presence in the play - the elegance and ground that she appears to hold throughout the scenes she's in seem to appear effect one's opinion of such a character. One's opinion of this particular character intertwines respect and love; for not only does she show femininity and patience, but she aslo represents a royal queen at its finest. Hermione's character can be seen to be an intelligent and graceful one. Her wit and sense of humor can be seen throughout Act 1 - Scene 2, where she is seen to be confident of her husband's love and trust that she jokes around with his own childhood friend King Polixenes of Bohemia, conversing about
Discuss the presentation and significance of the relationship between Florizel and Perdita.
Discuss the presentation and significance of the relationship between Florizel and Perdita. The relationship between Florizel and Perdita is first presented in the second half of the play, the love they show for each other shifts the mood and atmosphere in the play from the seriousness and heavy atmosphere to a lighter and gentler setting. Their relationship is symbolic of change and unity between Bohemia and Sicilia. The language in their speech and emotions they evoke are a contrast to the previous acts, where everything is harsh, cruel and negative. Even though their love is forbidden, Perdita being a ‘shepherdess’ and Florizel a prince, their actions for their love have a positive effect on the other characters, bringing hope and renewal. Florizel and Perdita’s form of love is a sign of spring in the play, where the atmosphere is lighter and the mood less intense. We are introduced to the couple in the second half of the play, set in Bohemia where it is likely spring (from the mention of flowers and herbs.) Their exchange is gentle and intimate, it can be sensed that there is ‘love in the air’ and trust is present. Shakespeare presents us to these characters and scene to show the contrasts from the first and second part of the play. The first part of the play is full of jealousy, tyranny, lack of trust and the air full of negativity, presenting the couple we
What atmosphere is created in Act IV of A Winter's Tale and Why?
What atmosphere is created in Act IV and why? Act 4 was to contrast greatly with the previous acts, as the sombre mood of Leontes' palace is to be cast away in place of more cheerful atmosphere. The play is split up into two parts, and the 2nd half strives to improve upon the dark ambience of the previous few acts - Shakespeare did this so that he could relieve the audience of the tragic events only acts before, and the cheerful environment is also there to compare with the beauty of Perdita and also the "unchaste and un-lustful love" that Florizel and Perdita have betwixt them. This mood shift from Leontes' palace is immediately highlighted when Time enters, stating that "Leontes leaving...that he shuts himself up," and mentions that Perdita has "now grown in grace equal with wond'ring...a shepherd's daughter is what to her adheres" Time also mentions "the son'o'king's, which Florizel I now name to you." It is immediately obvious "what follows after is th'argument of time." (i.e. Florizel and Perdita fall/have fallen in love). This creates a slightly tense atmosphere right at the beginning of Act 4, a crucial stage in the play. The suspicion that the audience has of Florizel and Perdita being in love is immediately confirmed by Polixenes and Camillo - "when saw'st thou the Prince Florizel my son?" "I have eyes under...look upon his removedness...house of a homely
"The Winter's Tale:" 'The Madness of Leontes appears with terrifying speed and threatens to destroy the world around him.' Discuss.
'The Madness of Leontes appears with terrifying speed and threatens to destroy the world around him.' Discuss. Leontes' 'tyranny working together with (his) jealousies' causes him to lose his only son by death and his wife, daughter, most expert advisor and oldest friend by estrangement for sixteen years. It is his jealousy that lies at the heart of his madness and it is his power as king that allows him act on this jealousy and wreak havoc upon those people closest to him. Leontes' jealousy appears in the second scene of the first act, with alarming swiftness and based on no real evidence. The suspicion begins to grow when Hermione manages to convince Polixenes to prolong his stay in Sicilia, Leontes takes it as a personal affront saying: 'at my request he would not.' From this moment on the jealousy begins to grow, this is made worse by the fact that Leontes himself asked Hermione to try and persuade Polixenes. Leontes claims that Hermione has 'never but once' spoken 'to better purpose' than when entreating Polixenes to stay, the other occasion, according to Leontes, was when she agreed to marry him. He seems to think that she holds them equally in her affections, it is a sign of how much his jealousy has grown that he does not understand her when she says her eloquence has gained her 'for ever a royal husband' and 'for some while a friend.' He
How do the ideas and languages of these speeches help to create the effect of Leontes' jealousy?
How do the ideas and languages of these speeches help to create the effect of Leontes' jealousy? The language with which Shakespeare creates Leontes' jealousy can be seen clearly in the first speech: "Ha' not you seen, Camillo / But that's past doubt; you have, or your eye-glass / is thicker than a cuckold's horn" The "Ha' not you seen Camillo" is almost a desperate plea for an answer to a question that doesn't exist and just by looking at that sentence you can feel the anger and this can be counted as an insult towards Camillo because he is accusing Camillo of being ignorant to his surroundings. Shakespeare uses the world "cuckold" which straightforwardly means a horn, like that coming out of a unicorn's head. In the sixteen hundreds this word was used as a symbol of shame and was used against men who had been ashamed by their wives i.e. their wives tended to sleep around and these men were looked down upon by society. Now Leontes is a king and if it were found out that his queen was having an affair, he would be completely destroyed by the society who looked up to him and what Shakespeare s implying that he would have the thickest cuckold. None of his assumptions are true, but this is what he thinks and because he himself is not entirely sure he seeks answers in Camillo. "For to a vision so apparent rumour / Cannot be mute" Again Leontes says that I can clearly see what
Explore the ways in which Shakespeare presents Leontes and his turn into jealousy.
Explore the ways in which Shakespeare presents Leontes and his descents into jealousy. Camillo and Archidamus, two loyal and committed courtiers, introduce the character of Leontes to us in the opening scene. . He is presented as a loving father to his son Mamillius, a gracious host and most of all a kind and dedicated friend to Polixenes. "There rooted betwixt them then such an affection that cannot choose but branch now", Camillo says to emphasize the very strong foundation of their friendship. The language Camillo adapts conjures an image of a tree as a symbol of closeness and continuity. This portrays their friendship in a much more natural light. This view is contrary to the character we meet in the latter part of the play, which Shakespeare might have been hinting with use of the word, "seemed". On meeting, Leontes for the first time, he seems to meet up to the expectation set to the readers by the courtiers, as he is evidently a man of a good nature. This in my opinion is very important, as Shakespeare finds it necessary to establish his character in a good light before the incident where his mind begins to get "poisoned". Leontes' kindness and love for his friend, Polixenes is made evident by the use of the word "brother". Also though, Leontes does not declare love in the same way Hermione does, he still makes evident his affection and fondness of his wife.
Winter's Tale Essay on Reference to the Gods and Fate
Adeebah Iqbal Examine Shakespeare's References To The Gods and Fate, Here and Elsewhere in the Play The belief of fate, and the role of the Gods in deciding this fate, was a common conviction held in Jacobean times. It is an occurring theme throughout The Winters Tale, with many references to various Gods and Goddesses being made throughout. In addition, the strength of the values and beliefs held towards prophecy and fate is shown through the faith put into the Oracle, by Hermione and Leontes, as well as their subjects; for example when Hermione is put on trial Leontes believes the words of the oracle over those of Hermione and Polixenes, and Hermione herself suggests that an oracle should be consulted. As well as the symbolic meanings of the various gods, Shakespeare uses various linguistic tools within the extract, these not only convey the characteristics of Florizel and Perdita, but also their feelings about themselves and for each other. Moreover, they are used to reflect other attitudes and values of the Jacobean Period. Prince Florizel is symbolic of spring, this is reinforced in the line "But Flora peering in Aprils Front," as Flora is the goddess of nature; furthermore the personification of April, could also be symbolic of the relationship between Florizel and Perdita, as April occurs in spring. Moreover, the reference to Flora could also be symbolic of
"The true interest of 'The Winter's Tale' lies not with Leontes but rather with the female characters - abused Hermione, faithful and tenacious Paulina and the beautiful, chaste and innocent Perdita."
"The true interest of 'The Winter's Tale' lies not with Leontes but rather with the female characters - abused Hermione, faithful and tenacious Paulina and the beautiful, chaste and innocent Perdita." To what extent do you agree with this view of the play? In my opinion 'The Winter's Tale' is a play about human error. It is about the mistakes that people can make and how hard it is to forgive oneself for making them. Most of all it about how time can bring healing change. Leontes is the character who best exemplifies all of these themes throughout the play. He is the character whose personality changes most and he is the one who is "resolved". However, the question asks whether the true interest of the play lies not with Leontes but rather with the leading women. It is certainly true that Hermione, Paulina and Perdita are not just predictable stereotypes of women but they are very similar to other female characters from the plays of Shakespeare. The best comparison of these is "abused" Hermione. She has a similar situation to Desdemona from 'Othello'. She is falsely accused and treated unfairly, though the obvious difference is that Hermione does not actually die whereas Desdemona does. The situation of being thought dead however does occur with Hermione. Also, Hermione can be compared to Cordelia from 'King Lear'. Cordelia is honest and true and yet bluntly abused and cast