How successful is Shakespeare in conveying the jealousy and penitence of Leontes? Is he more or less plausible to a modern audience?
...t part in the credibility of Leontes’ jealousy, describing the rhythm as “knocking against each other” simulating strong, violent and sexual thoughts and the rushing of Leontes’ blood. Many critics claim that this outburst is done purposely, as jealousy is a perverse emotion, often coming from nowhere. Bethell comments on this speech, saying: “Then suddenly with no more hint of preparation… Leontes’ jealousy comes full upon him” Bethell claims that the sudden outburst is purposeful, and had Shakespeare intended Leontes to be envious from the start he would have brought him on alone “to deliver an appropriate soliloquy” The fact that Leontes’ jealousy comes from nowhere, supports the modern day approach that Leontes’ suffers from ‘morbid jealousy’. He is not an unreasonable man, but an ill man. Morbid jealousy is a psychiatric condition, a person has an overvalued idea convincing themselves their partner is unfaithful and becoming sure they have evidence to support this infidelity. The main features of this jealousy are its delusional and obsessive nature, sufferers are almost invariably men in their forties. Buss et al (1992) explained that morbid jealousy is a ‘fear of loss of love, and it destroys that very love’. This is exceedingly relevant to the play as Leontes destroys his marriage through his jealous actions. Shakespeare himself describes Leontes’ jealousy as an “infection”. Many believe that Shakespeare is too intelligent to deny there is something medically wrong with Leontes. Many critics compare “The Winter’s Tale” with “Othello”, as the jealousy of the two men appears to have many similarities. Both stories are analogous, revolving around the supposed affair of the leading man’s wife Both characters seem content to take their anger and revenge out wholly on their wives, with Leontes taking little action to find Polixenes and Othello taking no action to find whom Desdemona had an affair with. This shows the state in which the two men are in; not logical, and irrational. Coleridge claimed that Othello is “…the direct opposite of it in every particular”, believing Leontes’ jealousy as more true to life than Othello’s. Othello does not follow the certain characteristics and behaviour associated with jealousy, whereas Leontes does. For example, “an eagerness to snatch at proofs”. Seen when Leontes talks about the seemingly innocent topic of touch; “Is whispering nothing? Is leaning check to check?” Leontes takes every little innocent detail and twists it providing evidence for his suspicions, basing his beliefs on what appears to the audience as nothing. However in Othello, Iago initiates Othello’s jealousy. Coleridge also comments on jealousy often resulting in: “… a grossness of conception and a disposition to degrade the object of passion by sensual fancies and images…” There is strong evidence in the text that supports Leontes behaving like this. Leontes degrades his wife at every opportunity, especially in the presence of others. He proclaims to the court that his wife is a “hobby horse”, implying she is an object, to be played with, ridden by anyone who desires. Although not all his statements are this palpable, there is a continuous sexual connotation in his speeches. Although many critics view Leontes’ jealousy as more authentic because of its suddenness, it is perhaps the audience who have the most difficulty excepting this. Othello takes half a play to reach the intensity of jealousy accomplished by Leontes in 150 lines. However this is debatably the essence of jealousy; impulsive and unpredictable. A modern day audience have more impenetrability with the jealousy than an Elizabethan audience. They would have accepted the play more warmly and unlike today’s audience would not have seen it as being ‘Fable’ This is not only because Elizabethan’s didn’t have the level of psychological understanding we have now, but as there was a history of misogyny and because they would have accepted the play as ‘just a story’. Elizabethans had a belief, advocated by the church, that women led men astray. Men became paranoid that they may become cuckolds, arguably the most reprehensible thing to experience. Leontes becomes convinced he is a cuckold. Referring indirectly to them at every available opportunity; “ …or your eye-glass/ Is thicker than a cuckold’s horn…” He has this idea relentlessly in his thoughts and cannot succeed to ignore the belief. In a patriarchal society it would have brought immense ignominy for a man to be betrayed not only by his wife, but his loyal servant and his childhood friend, let alone for this man to be the king. A view that the audience sympathises with. Not only is Leontes’ jealousy a heavily criticised part of “The Winter’s Tale” but so is his penitence. Leontes’ atonement starts after the announcement that his son, Mamillus, is dead. Leontes’ sudden recantation is as impulsive as his initial jealousy. “Apollo’s angry, and the heavens themselves/ Do strike at my injustice” However compared to the jealousy, the penitence has less credibility. Unlike the jealousy, there is no medical condition that penitence could fall under. It takes a dramatic action to trigger Leontes’ penitence, whereas it is small details, only visible by Leontes, that start his initial jealousy. In Act 5, scene 1, we gain a enhanced experience of how Leontes has changed. Sher comments upon how Leontes is a “transformed” man from this scene onwards, and this becomes very evident to the audience by Leontes’ behaviour, and behaviour of other characters. When returning back to Sicilia...