How does Shakespeare present aspects of love in th Essays - Fiction

How does Shakespeare present aspects of love in this passage? Examine the view that in this passage and elsewhere in the play, Hermione is presented as more than just a passive victim. Throughout The Winter's Tale, Shakespeare conveys diverse aspects of love through various characters, such as unlawful love, through Perdita and Florizel, parental love/lack of love, through Hermione/Mammillius/Perdita and Polixenes/Florizel,and narcissistic love, as shown by Leontes and Autolycus. Throughout this passage, Shakespeare presents love as playful, even when platonic, through the character of Hermione; "Nay but you will!" and "Force me to keep you as prisoner, how say you?". The use of the word prisoner and rhetoric implies playful, euphemistic connotations between Hermione and Polixenes. Moreover, the use of the word "Prisoner" also foreshadows Hermione's fate due to Leontes, therefore suggesting that Leontes' imprisonment of Hermione was out of love rather than hatred. Furthermore, Shakespeare presents the negative aspects of love due to fate. Shakespeare writes; "temptations have since then been born.." and "Your Queen and I are devils". The use of the word "temptations" and "devil" have sinful connotations of love, portraying the idea that aspects of love are unlawful or due to poor judgement. This foreshadows love and relationships shown throughout the winter's Tale, through characters such as Perdita and Florizel. This use of language such as "devils" also for eshadows Leontes' opinion of Hermione and Polixenes' sinful relationship. Furthermore, Shakespeare presents love as due to physical attraction, particularly on the male's part. For example; "your precious self had not yet crossed the eyes..". The phrase "cross the eyes" implies that her physical appearance was the cause of his love, which further reflects patriarchal values through Jacobean society, as ironically blaming women for their astounding beauty for attracting the male. The expression of anger towards women in relationships and love is further portrayed by Shakespeare through Leontes and Paulina; "can'st not rule her?". The use of the word "rule" has connotations of control and hierarchy in favour of the male within love, which further conveys that women are expected to obey men within love. Additionally, Shakespeare presents platonic love through Polixenes and Leontes, as innocent. Shakespeare describes Polixenes' and Leontes' early friendship; "what we exchang'd was innocence for innocence". This use of metaphorical language conveys the idea that youthful love is innocent, which is also reflected by the relationship between Perdita and Florizel initially. Furthermore, Shakespeare writes; "we should have answr'd heaven...hereditary ours". This conveys that Polixenes and Leontes have no guilt and the love between them was filled with innocence. The use of the word "hereditary ours" and pleading "not guilty" in heaven foreshadows Leontes' future sin(s) and in turn remorse, which contrasts the notion of King's in Jacobean era having divine right and doing God's will on earth directly. This also foreshadows the future ruining of Polixenes' and Leontes' relationship (until the end of the play). Kicking ass in court, Respected by everyone LEONTES IS VICTIMISED HUMSELF BY WHAT HE HAS DONE TO HERMIONE However, Hermione is presented as intelligent and eloquent, even when confronted by Leontes in Act 2 Scene 1. Shakespeare writes; "How this will come to grieve you, when you shall come to clearer knowledge". Hermione is presented as perceptive and accepting of her fate, which implies that she is in fact a PASSIVE VICTIM Hermione is presented as emotionally perceptive and intelligent.For example, from Act 1 scene 2, where Shakespeare writes how she convinces Polixenes to stay, after advising Leontes on how to convince him to stay; "Tell him you are sure all in Bohemia's well". This declarative statement portrays Hermione as intellectually dominant and superior to Leontes, which prominently juxtaposes the belief of her presentation of just a passive victim. Hermione is presented as uniquely masculine,when Shakespeare writes; "I am not prone to weeping as our sex commonly are", the use of the word "weeping" implies strong emotion, which conveys that Hermione does not respond to stressful situations emotionally or irrationally, which contradicts the view of Hermione as a typically passive' subservient female of her royal husband. This presentation would have been a rarity during the Jacobean era, as the King's divine right and authority resulted in universal power society and their wives, which was unquestioned. Furthermore, this contradicts Jacobean societal views