In reading The Winter’s Tale I immediately took notice of the similarities between Leontes and Othello, however, I feel like Leontes embodies both Othello and Iago in the sense that he himself is his own worst enemy. He has his wife, Hermione convince Polixenes to extend his stay, which he then feels has turned into flirting and his own thoughts consume his mind and drive him mad. My trouble thus far with Leontes as a character is I find that I find it hard to empathize with the possible idea that his wife has been having an affair because he puts her up to it.

LEONTES

Tongue-tied, our queen?

speak you.

HERMIONE

I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until

You have drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir,

Charge him too coldly. Tell him, you are sure

All in Bohemia’s well; this satisfaction

The by-gone day proclaim’d: say this to him,

He’s beat from his best ward.

LEONTES

Well said, Hermione.

Then, Leontes says a few lines down

LEONTES

Is he won yet?

HERMIONE

He’ll stay my lord.

LEONTES

At my request he would not.

Hermione, my dearest, thou never spokest

To better purpose. (1:1)

So,  Leontes has blamed Hermione when he should in fact be blaming himself. Othello was coaxed into thinking his wife had been having an affair. Which, I can understand for Iago made some very convincing points and was extremely persistent. Leontes has become paranoid and perhaps, filled with jealous and now is unable to see clearly. He even questions if his son is legitimate, for Polixenes stay has been the same length as his wife’s current pregnancy.

I am going to shift gears and discuss the similarity between Othello and Winter’s Tale. Throughout my reading of William Shakespeare’s works I have noticed that his plays are often similar in the sense that there is conflict surrounding infidelity, typically of a woman. At first I enjoy it because it’s interesting, however, after the multiple stories that I have read he almost becomes too predictable. I remember one of my English Professors taking negatively about his work and that was the first time I had ever heard criticism from someone- other than my peers who dread reading his work due to the complex language. Her criticism was that the stories are all alike, in that there’s the same general conflict. Now, I understand that stories thrive when there is conflict- but he could be more original. This has become so evident while reading The Winter’s Tale. I feel like i’ve read it before and to be quite honest i’m not overly interested to hear how the story pans out. His work has become too predictable. If you were to remove the names from the characters I feel like you’d have almost the same exact story with a few modifications and changes.

I understand the situations are different and not nearly as sinister as the situation in Othello, however, Leontes basically insists that Hermione convince his friend, this is so similar, just as Iago convinces Othello of Desdemona’s alleged wrongdoings. Iago so masterfully manipulates Othello and plays on his weakness, which I feel Leontes will slowly develop into a manipulator as the play unfolds. Iago beautifully crafts his manipulation

IAGO

My lord, you know I love you.

OTHELLO

I think thou dost;

And, for I know thou’rt full of love and honesty,

And weigh’st thy words before thou givest them breath,

Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:

For such things in a false disloyal knave

Are tricks of custom, but in a man that’s just

They are close delations, working from the heart

That passion cannot rule.

(3:3)

Now, I understand how that is quite a coincidence, but why now does Leontes feel there has been an affair? I find this puzzling, however, I am curious to see how the rest of the play unfolds.

One of the things I find quite interesting in William Shakespeare’s, Julius Caesar, is that the play is almost entirely male-dominated with the exception of the two wives. I started to think how does the lack of female influence affect a play? What I started to think about was how the two women, Calpurnia and Portia acted as the voice of reason often overlooked and dismissed. Granted, that does not surprise me for women today are often overlooked and dismissed. However, I found it interesting that Shakespeare would create their lines to be so profound, intuitive, and reflective.

Calpurnia does not want her husband, Caesar to go into the capitol because she has dreamt his bloody death. She has the intuitive desire to protect her husband, soon to be king of Rome.

 

CALPURNIA What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth?   You shall not stir out of your house to-day. 9

CAESAR Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten’d me   Ne’er look’d but on my back; when they shall see   The face of Caesar, they are vanished.

CALPURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,   Yet now they fright me. There is one within,  Besides the things that we have heard and seen, 15   Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.   A lioness hath whelped in the streets; (2:2:7-17)

 

Of course one can speculate that Caesar felt his ego was infringed upon, after telling his friend, or so he thought of the dream his wife had. Cesara had project his manhood and his ability to make his own decisions. This scene conveys that regardless of what women say they are allowed to be dismissed because after all they are women, what do they know, right? Shakespeare often leaves me confused on his stance regarding women. For I feel that he writes them to be very powerful in their own way and then crushes them with male figures. It is so clever for it emulates what life was like in the Elizabethan era. Conversely, I also feel that Shakespeare tries to be slightly rebellious as he writes only two women in the play, yet they are so outspoken and aware of the evil that surrounds them.

 

Portia is an interesting individual for she embraces her own power when she takes her own life in a way that is so ruthless. She is stricken by the lack of respect she has received by Brutus, for all she wants is for him to confide in her. Again, just as Caesar, the idea of losing one’s masculinity and forgetting their ego gets in the way and ultimately leads to their demise. Before taking her own life she comes to the understanding that because she is woman she is less than, however, she is more than her counterparts for she is the daughter of a noble man and married to a powerful husband. I am left with the feeling of dissatisfaction when he hear of Portia’s suicide, because I felt she was trying to be a good wife and a good human.

PORTIA

I grant I am a woman; but withal

A woman well-reputed, Cato’s daughter.

Think you I am no stronger than my sex,

Being so father’d and so husbanded?

Tell me your counsels; I will not disclose ’em.

I have made strong proof of my constancy,

Giving myself a voluntary wound

Here, in the thigh. Can I bear that with patience.

And not my husband’s secrets? (2.1.215-325)

 

Portia and Calpurnia cannot rise against the society they reside in, however, I am still pleased with the representation of having at least two women in a play. I also like that although they are not taken seriously, they are still heard. In my opinion I think they make the play, for it is Calpurnia that foreshadows her husband’s fall.  Her warning made cesare feel inferior, the idea that he listened to his wife disrupted his makeup. Portia was the first to start what felt like the never ending suicides, for I feel that it does take some courage to take your own life. Especially take your own life in a way that is so brutal. (Get it, brutal.. Brutus).

Out of all the interesting characters in Richard III, Lady Anne and the Duchess of York are the most surprising in my opinion. I say this because it seems that these are the only two characters who fully understand the capabilities of Richard and his desire to take over the throne. Let’s start with Lady Anne, the newly widowed woman who is manipulated by Richard into marriage, and for one brief moment murder, however, she succumbs to the manipulation and agreed on becoming his wife in front of her late husband’s corpse. Although, we the reader views this, or perhaps I view this as a complete disaster and illogical, I decided to put myself in Lady Anne’s shoes. For she will be marrying, once again into a royal family, thus having a life of leisure and luxury. It was instilled in woman that without a man they were looked down on in society for they had nothing. So I guess in her defense she is looking after herself and making sure she has some sort of life left, even if she does have to marry a villain. What Lady Anne fails to see, or maybe she turns a blind eye too is that Richard uses her merely for his own political agenda, which further confirms my earlier point that women were viewed as objects that were only needed to advance men in whatever they desired. Lady Anne and Richard’s conversation illustrates his manipulative ways and her understanding of who he truly is

(LA)Villain, thou know’st no law of God nor man/ No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity. (1:2:245)

(R) But I know none, and therefore am no beast.

(LA) O wonderful, when the devil tells the truth!

(R) More wonderful, when angles are so angry./ Vouchsafe, divine perfection of a woman,/ Of these supposed-evils, to give me leave,/ By circumstance, but to acquit myself. (1:2:252).

The way Richard manipulates Lady Anne,( after just having her husband killed) into marrying him masterfully displays his devious nature

If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive,

Lo here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword;

Which if thou please to hide in this true breast

And let the soul forth that adoreth thee,

I lay it naked to the deadly stroke,

And humbly beg the death upon my knee.

[He lays his breast open; she offers at it with his sword] (1.2.48)

He plays to her weakness, for he knows she wouldn’t never commit a murder and by handing her the sword leads her to think that he, in fact, cares for her.

Richard III is complex in the sense that most characters know the evil Richard possesses, however, they often seem hesitate to do anything about it. It is as if he has become the “talk of the town” something the other elites can talk to In a means to distract them from their own life. On the contrary, the Duchess of York, Richard’s mother expresses to the others that she wants Richard to “die by God’s just ordinance”(4.4.17).  This type of warning seems odd to me, for it is his mother that is warning everyone else of his vicious ways. Perhaps, this is her cry for help, after all mothers do know best. I am going to shift slightly and dive into who Richard is as a character. He is quite interesting and perhaps, a point I made in class is that he is full of evil intent and motivation in efforts to overcompensate for the lack of power or acceptance he had growing up with his physical deformity. Similar to Iago, Richard has this desire to amass as much power, recognition and self righteousness that he can, regardless of who is in his way.

Lady Anne and the Duchess of York both use the word “evil” when referring to, and addressing Richard, which I find it quite interesting for female characters to have such a profound voice in calling out an heir to the throne for his default of character. I enjoy seeing women have the voice of reason within the play it creates some stability. The women appear to be the voice of reason, while Richard and his men create the chaos, death and destruction. I can’t help but think that this is a commentary on Shakespeare’s era, and many eras that would follow.

In reading Shakespeare’s Othello I have come to the conclusion that this is by far my least favorite Shakespeare play, the deciding factor for me was then Iago opened his mouth. I know, sounds harsh but I genuinely cannot find anything enjoyable about him. His deceptive and evil nature deters me. I understand that all great genres need an evil twist to create some conflict, otherwise it would not be merely as enjoyable, however, this isn’t my cup of tea

I often think during my readings of the play, “why would Shakespeare want to include a character such as he?”. I feel this question is rhetorical, considering I don’t have any way of connecting to Shakespeare. Ill explain the many reasons as to why Iago boils my blood. Right off the bat of the play Roderigo is paying Iago in efforts to gain Desdemona’s love. Iago has clearly portrayed himself as being selfish and only looking after himself. I understand that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it is important to always watch yourself to make sure others aren’t taking advantage of you, so ill give Iago that point, however, the way he treats his supposed “friend” shows his true character. He has manipulated Roderigo into thinking that he is cupid and will make Desdemona love him as long as he gets a little extra cash on the side. Perhaps, my next thought may be a stretch, but I feel that this is a social commentary on men who feel women will fall in love with them because they think they are worthy. Maybe it isn’t but this scene does implicate the ego Iago has, which as the play progresses later develops and becomes out of hand. What is Iago’s purpose in getting into everyone’s business? Doesn’t he have enough to worry about considering he believes his wife, Emilia is cheating on him? Which, if this in fact is true I cannot blame her, rather I feel sorry she has married Iago. Iago devises a plan to wake Desdemona’s father as a way to show him his daughter is not who he thinks she is. He is expressing to her father that she has eloped with Othello’ talking negatively about Othello and Desdemona.

Call up her father,
Rouse him. Make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies. Though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on ‘t
As it may lose some color. (1.1.74-80)

In this beginning of the play he is so quick to throw Othello under the bus because he is upset he was not promoted to be his lieutenant, then as the play continues we see this shift in Iago where he realizes that he will play on Othello’s weakness in efforts to have Othello remove Cassio form the position. Of course, like any master manipulator and a pathological liar he preys on his victims weakness and acts like their friend while planting lies in their minds about the person he has an issue with.

But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,
And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets
He has done my office. I know not if ‘t be true,
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety. (1.3.429-433)

Iago clearly states how much he despises the Moor. Now, I am going to backtrack. I understand the need to create conflict within the play. My criticism lies with the amount of evil that has occurred all because of Iago. As a reader it does not make me want to read more for it is almost too over the top that he has this ability to control all these strong characters minds with this idea that Desdemona is a cheater. It loses its realness. It takes away the meaning of the work. In my opinion, I enjoyed that the main character was a Moor, it was different and it seemed like Shakespeare was making a social statement creating the most powerful and needed character to be a Moor. When you start creating a character like Iago it diminishes the modern elements. Granted, everything Shakespeare does seems to have some meaning behind it or motive. It could also be important for him to have a character like Iago in the play to counter the Moor and show how a white male is overpowering this black man who appears to have all the power because of his labels, however, in the play that does not seem to be true. Of course because I am reading this through a twenty-first century lens that idea that was just expressed bothers me and make some dislike Iago even more for the play has become nothing but a puppet show. He is a coward hiding his true intent.

Despite woman not being allowed to preform on the main stage, they serve quite a significant role within Twelfth Night. In fact, without them there would be no play, for without them there would be no plot. Viola, a woman who was rescued form a shipwreck has, in my opinion, the biggest influence as to how the plot develops. I find her thinking of dressing like a man in efforts to work for Orsino to be quite deceptive and done with haste as she decides she will dress as a man and work for Orsino in order to get closer to him. During her conversation with the Captain, Viola takes command and expresses her bizarre and somewhat morally unjust plan aloud

“prithee, and I’ll pay thee bounteously,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I’ll serve this duke:
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service.
What else may hap to time I will commit;
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.(2.1.100)”

Due to her craving to work for Orsino based on her desires of gaining his love, she is willing to change herself in order to find out his needs and wants from a woman to compete with his true love Olivia. In desperation for Orsino’s love, Viola is willing to go to extremes by pretending to be a man just to get close to Orsino.  This poses the question; is Shakespeare commenting on what it means to be a man?  Viola has changed her dress and hair and is passed off as a man quite easily. How can this be? Is he saying that man is created from woman, for they are the core that keeps them going? Perhaps, that observation is a stretch. I  find it quite odd that in the play a woman cross dresses as a man, while in reality during that time period the men would dress as woman and play their parts on stage. I think Shakespeare is also poking fun at male intelligence for he does not have his male characters see through Cesario’s façade.  Even though the male characters feel something is not quite right about Cesario with his woman like qualities they never question his gender. The role of Viola/Cesario allows the reader to get caught up within this love triangle, which almost seems normal. As I started to read deeper into the play I forgot that Cesario was Viola. Maybe that was Shakespeare’s goal all along.

To further develop my argument that Shakespeare is commenting on what it means to be a man. and man holds greater status in the world than women all we have to do is look at Olivia’s character. Olivia has the attention of two men as the play opens, the Duke Orsino and Sir Andrew. Unimpressed and unbothered by her two possible love interests, Olivia decides to mourn seven years for her late brother; therefore, delaying her fate as having lower status then her husband when she chooses one.  We discussed in class that this could be a way for Olivia to hold onto her power, because in that time period it was common for married woman to be under their husbands control. To connect Twelfth Night and Midsummers Night Dream, both works challenge woman roles within society.

 

It is evident that  William Shakespeare’s, Midsummer Nights Dream challenges the power dominance role between men and woman through his comedic play. What makes this play so acclaimed is that Shakespeare confronts gender upheaval in a patriarchal society.  If one where to look deeper at those that live within the Athenian world, one can observe the power complex between Egues and his daughter Hermia. Egues demands his daughter marry Demetrius with whom she is not in love with, rather Lysander has her heart. In efforts to force Hermia to do as he wishes,  Egues uses the law to reinforce his desires upon his daughter. “As she is mine, I may dispose of her, /Which shall either be to this gentleman/ Or to her death according to our Law.” (42-45). He has established his patriarchal authority, ignoring his child’s wants. He illustrates his self-righteous behavior and quest for power when he mentions that Hermia is going against the law by disobeying.

What I find interesting is that Hermia is not as timid as one would think a woman of her time would be. She is not afraid to express her deep love for Lysander, and confess her dismay of Demetrius. I find that Shakespeare is in a sense trying to reach deeper into his audience as if he is looking to help encourage a change among society. When Theseus says “What say you, Hermia? be advised fair maid:/ To you your father should be as a god;” (46- 47). This is quite striking, to have other man interfere within a man and daughter conflict almost serves as a need to prove that Egues is man enough. It appears that he cannot get his daughter to listen to him, thus he enlists in the help of other prominent male figures to intervene, and perhaps he doesn’t ask for their help, well he certainly doesn’t stop them from chiming in. In addition, Theseus is implying that Hermia should idolize her own father, relating him to Godly status. If this is so, and if Egues does in fact agree with Theseus, which it appears he does can’t one argue that a God or a person of God like status does not need anyone else to fight his battles? And typically a God sees right from wrong and has a keen ear to understanding?

To further argue my point that Shakespeare is challenging societal gender roles I would like to focus on Hermia as a whole. Thus far in the play she is the one non married woman in the Athenian society that outwardly tries to live her own life despite what others wish upon her. After her conversation with Theseus, in which he expresses his approval of Demetrius and all of his gentlemen like achievements she says “So is Lysander”(53) this simple yet complex line changes the meaning of her story. For it is her own way of letting Theseus know he has not changed her mind for it is unchangeable. She is strong willed and relentless. And then it is almost as if Hermia is losing sight of her desires; with melancholy says “I would my father look’d but with my eyes”(56). If her father could just see what she sees then she would not have to face the decision between choosing her father or lover. I also feel that Egues bitterness and disapproval of Lysander conveys to Hermia that he thinks she herself is not educated, for she has chosen him as her love. It is the lack of Egues empathy that distances his daughter further and further from himself.  Perhaps that is a stretch, it was a thought that came to mind whilst reading. I am quite interested to see how the rest of the story unfolds as I continue to read the play.