How does shakespeare present relationship between men and women and how might a modern day audience respond? assignment

Where as a modern day audience would be angered by his opposition to there rational mind, they would see it as an abuse of his power. However Jacobeans would think differently as during that period there was something not to trust about women, they were expected to obey men and were used for political success. For example, when Leontes asks Hermione to try and persuade Polixenes to stay longer. Leontes later regrets what he asked of Hermione. His speech patterns are fragmented indicating his jealously as it almost seems as if he’s talking to himself.

Leontes jealously is shown through his crude language it almost seem he has lost all respect for his wife when begins to insult her “ she has been sluiced in’s absence”. Leontes language is in complete contrast to others when talking about Hermione. As a modern audience has far more equal views they are enlightened in a situation like this, so although a Jacobean audience may be able to relate with this play a modern audience would still be interested in watching the play as they would be intrigued in how different the status of women was and how lunacy it was that Leontes behaviour would just have be accepted because of his royal status.

By act 2 scene 2 there is clearly a growing divide between the Men as Antigonus and Camillo have already stood against Leontes leading there friendships into turmoil. On the other hand there is union of women as all the women have stood united for innocent Hermione. This shows that something good can come out of something bad that the women stand united and the men stand against each other for what is right. Also another example of this is when Perdita is born in prison she is the only good thing come out of all this she represents innocence and a new beginning.

The structure of a Winter’s Tale “ is considered a tragicomedy because of its two part structure??? the first three acts contain elements of tragedy, while the pastoral fourth and fifth acts contain elements of comedy – John P. Cutts (1968) The 16 year gap of “ time”, now in bohemia; allows new relationships to develop such as Florizel and Perdita who represent the youth. There now seems to be a divide between the older generation, Leontes and Hermione and the younger generation, Florizel and Perdita. The youth use loving and poetic language “ When you speak, sweet, I’d have you do it ever”.

In conclusion, Shakespeare uses the relationships between men and women to create the conflict and drama within the play. As well as relationships heading into turmoil, they where also restored and reconciled by the end of the play in the place where they first broke down. The structure of this play begins with happiness then gradually moves to despair due to Hermione’s imprisonment and Mallmillus’s death. Then the gap of time leads to Bohemia, where the relationship of Perdita and Florizel was founded, and it was this relationship that brought us back to Sicilia and restored happiness.

During the time of Shakespeare women lived in a male dominated society. Women In this period had virtually no legal power and lost all right to own all personal property when they married. Men were expected to be the heads of the households. Once a boy turned eight he no longer was required to obey his mother. The ideal woman was believed to be a virgin and a faithful wife. Female honour and social respectability were tied so closely to sexuality that death was often presented as preferable to the loss of female chastity. The relationships between Men and Women In this play do reflect the status between them at the time.