Sense of the Radical Instability of Gender in Shakespeare's Winters Tale and Twelfth Night - Book Report/Review Example

Introduction Shakespeare uses cross-dressing to further the underlying tones of gender instability prevalent among Elizabethan audiences and societyin general. Although cross-dressing is not as pivotal to the plot in Shakespeare’s Winters Tale as it is in Twelfth Night both plays use the cross-dressing device as literary symbols to illustrate and further the gender struggles that have always been a part of mainstream society. In both plays cross-dressing is merely another means of highlighting gender identity and reversal. The discussion that follows focuses on cross-dressing plot devices as issues of gender instability in the context of Shakespeare’s Winters Tale and Twelfth Night. Discussion/Winters Tale In Winters Tale Shakespeare is clearly determined to convey that nature can be altered by art and the cross-dressing episode is as much a manifestation of this theme as the cross-breeding of flowers as discussed by Polixenes and Perdita. Polixenes makes a poignant observation while discussing the art of cross-breeding flowers when he says: “…Yet nature is made better by no mean But nature makes that mean: so, over that art Which you say adds to nature, is an art That nature makes. You see, sweet maid, we marry A gentler scion to the wildest stock, And make conceive a bark of baser kind By bud of nobler race: this is an art Which does mend nature, change it rather, but The art itself is nature.”1 Quite apart from the restorative prowess of art in respect of mending and altering nature, Shakespeare portrays women as quality, noble human beings. By contrast the men of Winters Tale are belligerent and border on qualities aligned with madness. Leontes for example unjustifiably accuses Hermoine, his queen with infidelity. The manner in which Hermoine responds to Leontes’s false accusations speaks volumes of her strength and courage as a woman. She is dignified whereas Leontes is insecure and jealous. Both reactions appear to be improbable and are more demonstrative of gender instability than anything else. For instance in the face of Leontes’ accusations of infidelity Hermoine says: “…I am not prone to weeping, as our sex Commonly are; the want of which vain dew Perchance shall dry your pities: but I have That honourable grief lodged here which burns Worse than tears drown…” 2 Hermoine’s observation is a manifestation of gender instability as much as cross-dressing in that she speaks eloquently of a shifting of gender roles and identity. In contrast to societal norms, she is stoic rather than emotional in the face of false accusations. On the other hand Leontes is emotional in coming to a hasty conclusion. Through a servant the audience learns that Leontes has trouble sleeping. The servant notes: “Madam, he hath not slept tonight; commanded None should come at him.”3 There is abounding evidence of male anxiety throughout Winters Tale. In the opening scene of Act II Leontes makes a telling revelation about gender instability when he says: “Nor night nor day no rest: it is but weakness To bear the matter thus; mere weakness.”4 It is obvious in this scene that there is concern for the emotional and stressed state that Leontes is found to be in. In the course of a discussion with Leontes over his anxiety, a trait usually assigned to women we learn that Leontes’ son is greatly distressed as well. Leontes informs his house guest: “Conceiving the dishonour of his mother, He straight declined, droopd, took it deeply, Fastend and fixd the shame ont in himself, Threw off his spirit, his appetite, his sleep, And downright languishd. Leave me solely: go, See how he fares.”5 Cross-dressing is tied in with these themes of gender shifting and the notion that art alters nature. There is no escaping the symbolic representation that clothing deconstructs and highlights gender differences. In Act IV Scene IV Autolycus submits that it is a relatively easy task to “geld a codpiece of a purse.”6 Accepting that codpiece is used as a metaphor for men, and purse for women there is no escaping the theme that it is not difficult task shifting gender roles. Twelfth Night Unlike Shakespeare’s Winters Tale gender instability is more prominently present in the form of cross-dressing in his play Twelfth Night. In fact Twelfth Night can be defined as a transvestite comedy. Viola, a female character disguises herself as a man and falls in love with Orsino and is unable to tell him of her affections since he believes she is a man. Complicating matters further, Olivia whom Orsino loves falls in love with Viola whom she in turn believes is a man as a result of Viola’s disguise.7 We learn the impact of gender bias through the character of Viola. Her decision to dress as a man speaks to the nature of the patriarchal society of Elizabethan times. Viola dresses as a man so as to improve her chances of securing a job with Duke Orsino. Disguised as a man, Viola gains a measure of security and confidence that she could not have achieved as a female in this fiercely male dominated society. In the role assigned to women Viola was not in a position to display her wit and talents. As she observes to the sea Captain: “For such disguise as haply shall become The form of my intent. Ill 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.”8 Implicit in Viola’s statement is the realization that there is no real distinction between the genders apart from physical attributes. Viola is as witty and talented as a male and it is not until she takes on the male persona of Cesario, that she feels confident enough to display her finer qualities. By doing so, the Duke takes to her prompting Valentine to say: “If the duke continue these favours towards you, Cesario, you are like to be much advanced: he hath known you but three days, and already you are no stranger.”9 While Shakespeare presents obvious gender instability in Viola’s cross-dressing plot romantic/heterosexual gratification is only achieved once the gender ambiguity is cleared up. However, there is no satisfaction for Antonio who has latent homosexual tendencies. It is obvious that Antonio is in love with his male companion Sebastian, Viola’s twin brother. But Antonio’s feelings will not be satisfied while Viola, Orsino, Olivia and Sebastian find satisfaction as heterosexuals once the cross-dressing disguises are removed.10 The message is clear, homosexual love, although unrestrained is forbidden. Viola says as much in her response to Olivia’s declaration to her male persona: “By innocence I swear and by my youth I have one heart, one bosom and one truth And that no woman has, not never none Shall mistress be of it, save I alone.”11 Shakespeare leaves the audience with the impression that the cross-dressing may have further complicated the issue of gender and sexual orientation. It would appear that although Orsino has discovered that Voila is a woman he is nonetheless drawn to her male persona and tells her in his declaration of love for her: “Boy, thou hast said to me a thousand times Thou never should’st love woman like to me”12 Even more alarming, Orsino, very well aware of Viola’s identity as a woman continues to address her by her male name telling her in his last comments in the play: “Cesario, come— For so you shall be while you are a man; But when in other habits you are seen, Orsino’s mistress, and his fancy’s queen”13 There is an unresolved question for the audience. Is Orsino in love with Viola or her male impersonation? This unresolved question is as much a manifestation of Twelfth Night’s gender instability as is the cross-dressing plot device. A more profound question is answered nevertheless. Norms about gender roles and sexual orientation are not set in stone since clothing can alter one’s sexual identity. Human qualities are not gender specific and the same message is equally brought home with regard to ones class. Malvolio for instance is a lowly servant who can disguise his station in life by merely changing his dress code. While Viola can alter her gender by changing her clothing, Malvolio can impersonate a man of nobility by changing his clothing.14 Gender instability is even pronounced in Twelfth Night’s theory that a woman is generally expected to be endeared to a man of masculine bravado. However we see in Olivia a contrary response to Viola’s male persona whom we can assume is lacking in typical masculine traits. Sir Toby Belch gives the following advice to Sir Andrew regarding his chances of winning Olivia’s hand: “Why, then, build me thy fortunes upon the basis of valor. Challenge me the count’s youth to fight with him. Hurt him in eleven places. My niece shall Take not of it, and assure Thyself, there is no love-broker in the world can more Prevail in man’s commendation with woman than Report of valor.”15 Conclusion In both plays Twelfth Night and Winters Tale there is a common theme, one of gender diversity which is characteristic of gender instability. Males are presented in both plays with a list of feminine qualities and females are presented with masculine qualities. These qualities are not always confined to cross-dressing as we have seen in Winters Tale and can be manifested in the actual abstract qualities assigned to the persona. Shakespeare’s plays were both written at a time when gender was primarily defined by assigned roles. Certain characteristics were essentially male and female in nature and were thought to be explained by the biological differences between the sexes. Twelfth Night and Winters Tale successfully challenge these gender barriers by reassigning male and female roles either by virtue of cross-dressing or merely by role reversals. In either case, each play blends the male and female norms together in characters such as Viola and Hermoine. These Shakespeare heroines are endowed with the best feminine and masculine conduct and attitudes. They are strong women and are very much in control of their own fate. Viola for instance controls the action from start to finish but does so in the guise of a man. She successfully wins the man of her choice, whereas Hermoine is vindicated through patience and fortitude. By crafting women like Hermoine and Viola Shakespeare crosses gender barriers. He does so via cross-dressing and gender reversal in a profound way, by challenging accepted norms. Women and men are equal in everyway. Women can be strong and men can be weak and this theme is the underlying challenge to gender stability in both Twelfth Night and Winters Tale.     Works Cited Shakespeare, William. (2005) Winters Tale. Oppidan Library, LLC Shakespeare, William. (2006) Twelfth Night. Irvine, California: Saddleback Educational Publishing. Read More