The Winter's Tale - World play was written and recieved
- Created by: Harleym7000
- Created on: 29-05-18 10:11
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- Published as part of the so-called ‘First Folio’ in 1623, The Winter’s Tale was first performed in 1611, and was written at some point prior to that but possibly as early as 1609.
- This was during the rule of King James I, who came to the throne in 1603. He became, among other things, the patron of the band of actors to which Shakespeare belonged, and as a result they changed their name from The Lord Chamberlain’s Men to The King’s Men.
- James succeeded Elizabeth; he had been raised as a Presbyterian, studied theology and presided over the standard English translation of the Bible still in use today.
- This devotion to religion is interesting as many of Shakespeare’s ‘later’ (and difficult to categorise) plays – notably Measure for Measure, Cymbeline and The Tempest as well as The Winter’s Tale – are concerned with themes of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation, often in relation to a royal patriarch such as a duke or a king.
- Some critics believe this was to interest and flatter King James; others feel these qualities would have naturally been of concern to Shakespeare as he matured and grew older; some argue it could be Shakespeare’s attempt to reassert the idea that mercy and compassion should lie at the heart of true Christianity.
- Given the important status of the Monarch in Renaissance times as well as the fact he was a personal patron of Shakespeare’s company, it was important that artworks produced reflected well on the life of the King or flattered his interests.
- Shakespeare did this in several of his plays – Macbeth, for example, contains witchcraft, a morbid interest of King James…
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