Winter's Tale Analysis of Context

During the interview with Fred Adams he mentioned that to create realistic characters Shakespeare principally visited the pubs and played to his audience.  Since I am analyzing the strategies that Shakespeare employed in crafting his works these contextual details appealed to my interest.  In reading act 3 scene 2 from the “Winter’s Tale” for today, I couldn’t help but recall this conversation and clearly see the connection.  While thinking about this connection I read Max's blog and he had some great insights that helped lead me to this conclusion.

The attitude that Shakespeare provides for the King seems harsh and unforgiving, even fatalistic, but considering the context that aided his characterization, these traits seem highly organic.  The townspeople would have revered the king because of his authority over the land, and his power to affect their lives.  Surely the King would want these traits of his to be emphasized in the play so that the people continued to revere him, even if it is only based on the motivation of fear.  

The characterization of Hermione also seems to grow out of the context.  She emphasizes an intelligent woman of the court, born to a life of privilege.  Despite these strengths, through carefully walking the line, Shakespeare manipulates her lines so that while appearing individualistic and strong, she does not refute the power of the king.  She attempts to appeal to his logos, but ultimately recognizes that regardless of her artifice, the Kings will shall be the ONLY determining factor.  Brooke does a great job of describing the role of Hermione in this scene.

This scene of the play almost seems fatalistic from the moment of the conflicts origination provided these notions of court supremacy, as well as the kings god-given right to rule.  Not only do these efforts of Shakespeare act on the trends of what may well have been the sentiments of the townsfolk, this scene seems calculated to please King James because of the empowered image of monarchy, particularly the role of Leontes.  There is a tang of moral reprobation in the scene, given that the fates are against the actions of the King, and so it is easy to see the critique of monarchial power, but despite his errors, Leontes’s will is still promoted as supreme.