

Feminist Perspective Of Paulina In Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

716 words - 3 pages

A Feminist Perspective of Paulina in The Winter's Tale  

   Feminist criticism explores gender themes in literature, assesses the worth of female characters, promotes unknown women writers, and interprets the canon from a politically-charged perspective. Shakespeare has proven more difficult to categorize than other white male masters of the written word, precisely because of the humanity of his female characters. Critic Kathleen McLuskie urges feminists to "assert the power of resistance, subverting rather than co-opting the domination of the patriarchal Bard" (McLuskie 106). Yet many feminists find strength in Shakespeare. Irene Dash, for instance, proclaims that "Shakespeare's women characters testify to his genius .... they learn the meaning of self sovereignty for a woman in a patriarchal society" (Dash 1). Paulina of The Winter's Tale provides support for Dash's argument. With courage and passion, Paulina defends Hermione against chauvinistic paranoia and enshrines female virtue.


Perhaps the best testimony to Paulina's power is the historical reaction of male critics. In 1733, editor Lewis Theobald condemned Paulina as "too gross and blunt" for daring to call the King "downright a Fool" (Dash 135). In 1863, scholar Charles Cowden Clarke whined that Pauline was excessive: "... she does play the tattoo upon his skull with amazing vivacity ­ and after he is down, too .... Paulina cannot forego the gratification of punching him in his maundering distress" (Clarke 356). In 1969, Fitzroy Pyle acknowledged Paulina's "goodness" but applied the label "militant" (Pyle 41).


With a similar sentiment but more blatantly hostile language, the fictional King Leontes abuses his adversary Paulina with sexist insults. He screams "witch," "crone," and "gross hag" (II. iii. 66,74,106). Amazingly, 377 years after Shakespeare wrote this play, radical-lesbian-feminist-theologian Mary Daly would reclaim Leontes' invectives in her controversial Webster's First New Intergalactic Wickedary of the English Language. Daly re-defines crone as a "survivor of the perpetual witchcraze of patriarchy" and describes hags as "haunting the Hedges/Boundaries of patriarchy, frightening fools and summoning Weird Wandering Women into the Wild" (Daly 114,136). For daring to speak the truth, for refusing to be silenced until her message is conveyed, Paulina receives furious threats from the patriarchal ruler. Neither husband nor King can...

Find Another Essay On Feminist Perspective of Paulina in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

Romance and Tragedy in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

1644 words - 7 pages Perdita and submitting himself to the romance of The Winter's Tale. Shakespeare presents women in The Winter's Tale as self-sacrificing and honorable, and this is no where more apparent than in Hermione. She hides herself from Leontes for sixteen years, going along with Paulina's vision of romance and her faith in the oracle's prediction. Whether or not Paulina and Hermione plotted her "death" and subsequent resurrection is less important than

Misfortune and Comedy in Shakespeare's Play, A Winter's Tale

1374 words - 6 pages A Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare is a chilling play full of misfortune and comedy. Throughout the play, the themes of death and suffering are present, but yet the way in which they are presented is both comical and strange. The way in which the dialogue takes place or the way in which actions occur seem to be ambiguous. One of the most pivotal points of the story takes place over a very short time span, climaxing over three pages, and

Significance of memory for Paulina in Death and the Maiden

1045 words - 5 pages of men in power. The citizens didn’t have any rights and public beatings and forced sexual encounters were rampant. One of the victims of these sexual encounters was Paulina Escobar who was raped repeatedly by Doctor Roberto Miranda while she was in his captivity. What made these sexual encounters more appalling was the fact that he always blindfolded her when he sexually violated Paulina. He would also play the composition ‘The Death and the

The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare

1106 words - 4 pages The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare Shakespeare creates many topics for discussion throughout his play, The Winter's Tale. For many of these themes, multiple viewpoints can be derived from the thoughts, words, and actions of the characters in the play. The reasoning for Shakespeare's title is indeed one of the aforementioned topics. Firstly, the title helps to set the stage for which the play

Explore how the roles of men and women are portrayed in "The Winter's Tale"(William Shakespeare) and how the modern day audience would react to them

2778 words - 11 pages audience of the 21st century may not react like this, however. Because the status of women has improved with time, women are now considered as relatively equal to men, lessening the impact of Shakespeare's moral. However, the feminist critics of today would still find "The Winter's Tale" of crucial importance. The play would aid them in assessing the worth of different individuals throughout the different periods. In analysing the portrayal of women in the play as independent, intelligent characters, juxtaposed with men as irrational intemperate creatures they may be able to achieve this.

The Handmaids Tale - Feminist?

1518 words - 6 pages Do you agree that although The Handmaid's Tale is written from a feminist point of view, the portraits given of men are surprisingly sympathetic while those of women are often critical? Yes, I agree with this statement. Although the theocratic totalitarian regime operating in Gilead was instigated and is controlled by men, the male protagonists in the novel are seen as caring and sympathetic. Although one or two women have become quite close

Close reading paper of Winter's Tale and Hamlet and the involvement of Love after Death in the text. - University of Illinois/ English 218 - Essay

1689 words - 7 pages the way that they did. Love, regret, and death all played key parts in shaping the scenarios of the Prince Hamlet and Leontes. Work Cited Shakespeare, William, et al. “The Winter's Tale.” The Norton Shakespeare: Essential Plays, the Sonnets, W.W. Norton & Co., 2016. Shakespeare, William, et al. “Hamlet.” The Norton Shakespeare: Essential Plays, the Sonnets, W.W. Norton & Co., 2016.

Hermiones Pregnancy in The Winter's Tale compared to Iago in Othello

818 words - 4 pages The Winter’s Tale and Othello, both by William Shakespeare, contain fantasies of female betrayal. In both play’s these fantasies are aggregated by something, be it Iago in Othello or Hermione’s pregnancy in The Winter’s Tale. Iago confronts Othello in act 3.3, eluding to his wife’s betrayal. Both Othello and Leontes have a seemingly sudden onset of jealousy. However, Othello’s jealousy forms later in the play than Leontes

The Fairy-tale of If on a winter's night a traveler

1271 words - 5 pages The Fairy-tale of If on a winter's night a traveler       In the past, fairy-tales have been a major form of writing for the great minds of the imaginative authors of the world. In search of cultural roots, much of Europe focused on its folktale and fairy-tales. However, Early Modern and Contemporary Italy took its tales and changed, manipulated, and combined them, having dissimilar concerns as the other societies of Europe. Influenced by

Appropriation of the old Grimm Fairy Tale Florinda and Yoringal, in a Feminist reading

1162 words - 5 pages JACINTA THE GREATOnce upon a time in the centre of a thick dense forest there was a cottage and in it dwelt an elderly woman who was known as Lady of the Woods. She was kind and wise; who had great knowledge in the properties of plants and cared for the animals wounded of the forest. She was a greatly respected herbalist, and many travelled from far and wide for her healing remedies, in which she asked for nothing in return. The Lady of the

The Feminist Perspective of Taming of the Shrew

1009 words - 4 pages The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare is a play that is ahead of its time in its views toward gender roles within society. Katherine is a woman who is intelligent, and is not afraid to assert her views on any given situation. She is paired with another obstinate character in Pertuchio. The Marriage formed between the two is a match made in heaven for two reasons. First Because Katherine is strong enough to assert her views, and more

Similar Essays

The Importance Of Time In Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

2326 words - 9 pages Shakespeare's earlier plays, The Winter's Tale moves from tragedy to comedy. The disastrous consequences of Leontes' jealousy and tyranny are resolved by the passing of time. Only after sixteen years can the two royal families come together again. Time also plays a significant role in the reading of the chosen passage. The passage is full of commas, colons, semi-colons, and periods, which force the lines to be slowed and pausing. The frequent

Power Of Men In William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

3908 words - 16 pages Power of Men in William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale It has been said that in "The Winter's 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

Forces Of Nature In Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

1725 words - 7 pages Forces of Nature in The Winter's Tale       "A sad tale's best for winter," young Mamillius declares (2.1, 25). So ominously begins Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, a story that the audience is immediately tempted to deem a tragedy. However, unlike many of Shakespeare's other later works, which accrue more and more tragedy as the play progresses, The Winter's Tale begins tragically, but concludes happily. The play contains strong elements

A Pagan's Perspective In The Winter's Tale By William Shakespeare

1005 words - 4 pages A Pagan's Perspective in The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale depicts a family torn apart as a result of the jealous actions of Leontes, the King of Sicilia. The actions and personality of Leontes can also be observed in Greek Tragedies by Homer and Sophocles. The relationship between the members of the royal family portray direct and subtle parallels to the Classical works before it