Essay on Power of Men in William Shakespeares The...

Power of Men in William Shakespeares The Winters Tale It has been said that in The Winters Tale Shakespeare dramatises the contemporary struggle between masculine and feminine power. In light of this comment, examine the presentation of the relationships between men and women. Despite their many differences, contemporary society is now only beginning to realise their equal and respective roles in society. Since the beginning of time a contemporary struggle for equality has been present between masculine and feminine powers. The biblical stories of creation have often been used as an excuse to mistreat women. The mythical story of The Garden of Eden has been used to display women being easily seduced into wrong doing The†¦show more content†¦Unlike the other male writers of his time, Shakespeare had proven very hard to catergorise and this is reflected by the humanity of his female character. Critic Irene Dash states Shakespeares women characters testify to his genius... they learn from the meaning of self-sovernity for a woman in a patriarchal society. The female characters of The Winters Tale prove Dashs comment, as Shakespeare shows of the goodness women through: the fierce honesty of Hermione, the youthful constancy of her daughter Perdita and the consummate righteousness of Paulina, Hermiones lady-in-waiting, who stands up to King Leontes when no one else will. Shakespeare provides the audience with three females namely Hermione, Perdita and Paulina who are constanly right yet have no power whereas men such as Leontes who have all of the power and yet are constantly wrong. Through the presentation of his characters Shakespeare is illustrating the inequality and oppression of women in the 17th century, thus highlighting the contemporary struggle between masculine and feminine powers. In the Jacobean era, women were considered to be second-class citizens, and when they married they lost their independence, property and without legal power, had to do as the male pleased. A rhyme from Voyce of the LesdeShow MoreRelated Relationships Between Men and Women in The Winters Tale by William Shakespeare3196 Words   |  13 PagesRelationships Between Men and Women in The Winters Tale by William Shakespeare The Winters Tale was written in 1611, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The play is one of Shakespeares romance titles, though it could be more justly referred to as a tragi-comedy due to the instances of accusation, death, repentance and reunion. To successfully study how Shakespeare presents relationships between men and women in The Winters Tale there are four main relationshipsRead MoreFree Will vs. Fate in The Winters Tale Essay1645 Words   |  7 PagesThe Winters Tale The Winters Tale is one of jealousy, betrayal and redemption. 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