Shakespeare chose to write on an already published work, as usual, when he wrote The Winter's Tale. It is believed to have been composed around 1610 to 1611. Though this is not for certain, it is supported by evidence in the play itself, and the fact that it was performed for the first time on May 16, 1611. It bears resemblance to other Shakespearean works such as The Tempest and Cymbeline that were written around that time. Even the language itself is characteristic of Shakespeare's latest manor. The style of the poetry is also an indication of when in his life he wrote it: in his declining years.
He obtained the story from Pandosto: The Triumph of Time, written by Robert Greene in 1588. He shortened the length of the original work as well as changed all of the character's names in an attempt to hide his use of Greene's work. He follows the general plot line throughout the first three acts, accept that he only tells of the last day of Polixenes' visit and he discards the obvious source of Leontes' jealousy: Hermione's imprudent behavior. Throughout the play he continued to alter details to help disguise his doings from the public, but to obviously no avail.
The Winter's Tale was very popular following its 1611 performance. It was even chosen to be one of the plays to be performed honoring the marriage of Princess Elizabeth to the Elector Palatine. Despite its early popularity, however, it suffered a decline in the Restoration and the eighteenth century. In the late eighteenth century, though, it was revised to fit the times in an attempt to bring it back to popularity. A man by the name of David Garrick rewrote it and his version, Florizel and Perdita: A Dramatic Pastoral, took the stage in place of The Winter's Tale. It is only within the past few decades that Shakespeare's work has been declared one of his masterpieces.
Most recent writers on The Winter's Tale have accepted Dr. E. M. W. Tillyard's view that the plays of Shakespeare's last periods represent a natural development of the interests shown in his tragedies.
This play has the happiest ending of all of Shakespeare's plays. It is supposed that the original ending of the play was events that now are only reported, the identification of Perdita, and that the statue scene is a later alteration and not in Shakespeare's original text at all. Whether or not this is fact remains a mystery, but it does provide a happier ending to have Hermione return, and this is believed to be Shakespeare's intentions: "all's well that ends well."
The play begins with Leontes, king of Sicilia, trying to persuade his friend, Polixenes, king of Bohemia, to stay in the Kingdom. Polixene's asks his wife Hermione to try and see what she can do. When Hermione succeeds, Leontes misinterprets the innocent act and assumes that the two are lovers. Leontes becomes obsessed and wants Polixenes dead so he orders Camillo, his counselor, to poison him. Camillo knows of the queen's innocence and escapes with Polixenes in the night.
After Leontes finds out Polixenes escaped, he believes his suspicions are true. Leontes proclaims publicly of Hermione's adultery, and throws her in prison. While the queen is in prison she has a baby girl. Paulina, hoping the baby will change Leontes opinion, brings the baby to him. Leontes disowns the child, and orders Antigonus to take the baby to a far land and abandon it.
Hermione is brought to trial and declares her honesty to the court, and appeals for judgment to the oracle of Apollo. The sealed oracle declares her innocence, yet Leontes is still unconvinced. News arrives that Mamillius, the queen's son, has died. Hermione is carried out and soon reported dead. Leontes goes into mourning and realizes Hermione was innocent.
Meanwhile, Antigonus leaves Perdita, the abandoned child, on the coast of Bohemia where she is found by a shepherd. Immediately after, Antigonus is eaten by a bear.
In the next scene, sixteen years has passed. Florizel, prince of Bohemia, has fallen in love with the shepherd girl Perdita. Florizel wants to marry the girl but is told of the terrible punishment if he were to go through with this act. Camillo offers to help the couple escape to Sicilia.
Meanwhile the old shepherd, to save himself from punishment, tells Polixenes that Perdita was a foundling, and shows him the clothing and jewels that were found with her. Polixenes follows Perdita and Florizel to Sicilia.
Florizel and Perdita are welcomed in Leontes court. Polixenes and Leontes reconcile, and Camillo is welcomed back to his master. Paulina offers to show the company a statue of Hermione. As they gaze, the statue comes to life and Hermione comes out explaining she had been in hiding waiting for the return of her daughter. They all live happily together and Leontes suggests the marriage of Camillo and Paulina. The Shakespeare homepage will provide the complete text of The Winter's Tale as well as additional information about William Shakespeare himself.
The English Renaissance is frequently called the Elizabethan period, because the major political figure during this time was Queen Elizabeth I. During the Elizabethan age many elements such as politics, exploration, literature, and learning converged to produce a favorable climate for England and for English playwrights.
In Shakespearean times the main belief was of the Great Chain of Being. The idea revolved around God being the symbol of perfection and total power, all other creature being below him. Angels were a sign of reason and man had characteristics of both the angels and the lower class of animals. Animals were thought of as instinctive creatures, and plants were purely objects.
Socially the same idea was established. The king was the highest in power for one kingdom or society. The queen was ranked below her king, then came courtiers and descended down to the peasants. Societies were ruled by patriarchy, leadership by men, and women were considered less important. This ideology is emphasized in Shakespeare's plays.
Historians continue to debate why women were not part of the Elizabethan acting companies. Most historians believe that the absence of female performers was a continuation of a medieval English tradition and also a result of the religious attitude towards actresses: it was contended that actresses were no better than prostitutes.
The exact date of William Shakespeare's birth is unknown, but we do know that he was born in the year 1564 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. He was christened on April 26 of that year. He was the third child of John and Mary Arden Shakespeare.
Shakespeare's father was a prominent and active citizen of Stratford. He was a tanner and glovemaker. He was an Alderman of Stratford for years and he also served as high bailiff, or mayor. However, toward the end of his life John Shakespeare lost most of his money. When he died in 1601, he was only able to leave his son a small amount of real-estate.
Almost nothing is known about Shakespeare's childhood and early adulthood. We do know that when he was 18 he married Anne Hathaway in the year 1582. Shakespeare's first daughter, Susanna, was born in 1583. In 1585 Shakespeare had twins by the name of Hamnet and Judith.
Little is known of Shakespeare's first few years of involvement in the theater. However, by the year 1592, we know that Shakespeare was recognized as an actor and a playwright. We know this because in that year Robert Greene, a playwright, accused him of borrowing from the plays of others.
Before 1598 Shakespeare only worked in an area of the parish of Shoreditch. This area was outside the city walls of London but it had two playhouses, the Theater and the Curtain. In about 1598 Shakespeare moved to a district called Bankside. At first Shakespeare did work in the playhouses, the Rose and the Swan. However, after the theater, the Globe, was built Shakespeare primarily worked there. Shakespeare also bought shares in the globe and made a considerable amount of money from it.
In 1603 Queen Elizabeth died and was followed by King James. King James took control of Shakespeare's theatrical company and named it the King's Company. It had previously been called the Earl of Derby's and the Lord Chamberlain's company. The theatrical company became the most successful of its time and Shakespeare and other actors became officers of the royal household. In 1608 the King's Company started to work in the Blackfriarrs Theater but also continued to work at the Globe. This helped build Shakespeare's prestige and he began to frequent the Mermaid Tavern with many other famous writers.
In 1610 Shakespeare retired from his theater work and returned to his home town of Stratford. Six years later, Shakespeare died on April 23 at the age of 52. He was buried in the chancel of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford.
The story was and amazing depiction of what can happen due to jealousy. The story was interesting and kept my attention but I was unhappy with the ending. It's nice to live happily ever after but I don't think this ending was at all realistic. In most jealousy situations no one lives happily ever after.
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