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The play 'The Winter's Tale' by William Shakespeare is a part of the CIE English Literature 2019/2020 syllabus: Paper 5 . The essay offers the perfect opport...
- Extract: Explore the significance of the title in Shakespeare’s ‘The Winter’s Tale.’
- GRADE: 23/25 (A* - Level/Band 6)
The significance of the title of William Shakespeare’s play ‘The Winter’s Tale’ –
originally published in the First Folio of 1623 and performed in the Globe Theater
(1611) – is featured throughout the plot in various ways. Ranging from
associations to the specific use of a definite article, the play’s title does not only
simply accomplish the role of a title, but also serves as a basic representation of
the complete story; including its chain of events. Simultaneously it exhibits a
deeper insight into the “tales” overall meanings and morals.
It is interesting to note that, in terms of relevance, the play’s title turns in favor
of the debate concerning the ‘romance’ genre as, by definition, winter’s tales
would be considered as strange and fanciful oral narratives intended to while
away the long, cold and harsh nights of winter. Therefore, not meant to be
taken seriously or withstand vigorous logical interrogation and questioning.
Mamillius himself specifies a story of “spirits and goblins” which evokes fairy-
tale elements throughout the play. On top of this, the place in which these first
references occur are based in the domestic company of women, and is put in
the mouth of the androgynous Mamillius – who is still “unbreeched” and who’s
name etymologically denotes ‘breasts’ due to its Latin roots - is significant. For
this type of narrative to fall within the patriarchal culture of the early modern
period was gendered female. Within the most serious and disciplined classical
genres learnt in grammar schools, where boys begin the process of discovering
their masculine identity, effeminate oral tales were considered trivial and, hence,
probably left behind in nursery.
Contextually, the phrase “winter’s tale” refers to oral wives’ tales which were
narrated to children at night before they went to bed. The significance of the
play’s title lies within the fact that such “tales” were often associated within
improbable plots, supernatural and fantastical wonders; features which are
recurrent in ‘TWT’. Whilst the critic Coleridge state the tragedy offered is
enough to be deemed as a suitable winter’s tale, other critics disagree and state
that its defining qualities are based on Leontes’ irrational jealousy, leading to the
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