The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare
This is a story of male friendship. We have the king of Sicily, Leontes, and the king of Bohemia, Polixenes indulging their fondness for each other. From the outset, we see how these two friends socialize and enjoy the pleasures of being together. Even though they both have wives in tow, Prolixness is visiting Leontes without his queen, which gives his visit a queer hue. For instance, they both are kings, but Polixenes have the time to spend nine months with Leontes. Conventionally, this would have made more sense, had he actually been in love with the Leontes' queen, Hermione. But this is not the case, he is in the kingdom of Sicily only because of Leontes. Their bond is unique because it has elements of loyalty, concern, and tenderness.
Clearly, in those times, it must have been difficult for men, especially for noble men – more so for the Kings – to love other men openly and claim their relationships with men. But that is not the case, so they have their own ways of satisfying and nourishing homosexual urges. This is not to suggest that the kings in the play are sexually involved, but to say that their friendship has a distinct same-sex flavor to it.
After spending nine months together, Polixenes wants to return to his kingdom. Such a long stay in the case of a king was itself odd. One would have understood such a carefree, long sojourn better if they were both poets, or at least if one of them were. One wonders how could Polixenes stay such a long time with Leontes. Who looked after his kingdom, his queen?
Now when he wants to leave, Leontes does not want him to go. As if being a king, having a wonderful queen Hermione and all the pleasures that come with it are not enough for Leontes, as if his life would be less on his friend's departure. Even after having him for long, Leontes is not sated. He begs Polixenes to extend his stay. These pleadings are the pleadings of a lover. When this does not work, Leontes involves his wife and asks her to intervene and implore Prolixenes to prolong his stay. This works, but finally this has severe consequences. Leontes turns suspicious and wonders how come Prolixenes agreed so easily to stay on the requests of the queen and ignored his pleas.
These freakish, jealous thoughts grip Leontes completely which shows the dynamics of his relationship with Prolixenes. He becomes furious, less like a friend, more like a spurned lover. He feels ditched by Prolixenes because he gives in to the beseechings of Hermione; something that is withheld from him. In reality, Polixenes might have been moved by the queen's request to stay because it validates, in some fundamental way, his friendship with Leontes. Sadly, such a possibility never occurs to Leontes, in his passion and blinded attachment, he fails see it.
However, once the jealousy and doubt emerge, they cloud Leontes' mind completely and he commits atrocities of the most ignoble kind. But the play, at last, ends happily. The unmistakable hints of same-sex love, if not an outright homosexual relationship, that we see in the first few acts are finally subsumed in the final act. In other words, the straight narrative exerts itself in the final act and takes the center stage whereas the unruly male friendship is pushed to the margins. The Princess meets his Prince, The King his Queen, and somewhere in the background, a male friendship is restored.
Clearly, in those times, it must have been difficult for men, especially for noble men – more so for the Kings – to love other men openly and claim their relationships with men. But that is not the case, so they have their own ways of satisfying and nourishing homosexual urges. This is not to suggest that the kings in the play are sexually involved, but to say that their friendship has a distinct same-sex flavor to it.
After spending nine months together, Polixenes wants to return to his kingdom. Such a long stay in the case of a king was itself odd. One would have understood such a carefree, long sojourn better if they were both poets, or at least if one of them were. One wonders how could Polixenes stay such a long time with Leontes. Who looked after his kingdom, his queen?
Now when he wants to leave, Leontes does not want him to go. As if being a king, having a wonderful queen Hermione and all the pleasures that come with it are not enough for Leontes, as if his life would be less on his friend's departure. Even after having him for long, Leontes is not sated. He begs Polixenes to extend his stay. These pleadings are the pleadings of a lover. When this does not work, Leontes involves his wife and asks her to intervene and implore Prolixenes to prolong his stay. This works, but finally this has severe consequences. Leontes turns suspicious and wonders how come Prolixenes agreed so easily to stay on the requests of the queen and ignored his pleas.
These freakish, jealous thoughts grip Leontes completely which shows the dynamics of his relationship with Prolixenes. He becomes furious, less like a friend, more like a spurned lover. He feels ditched by Prolixenes because he gives in to the beseechings of Hermione; something that is withheld from him. In reality, Polixenes might have been moved by the queen's request to stay because it validates, in some fundamental way, his friendship with Leontes. Sadly, such a possibility never occurs to Leontes, in his passion and blinded attachment, he fails see it.
However, once the jealousy and doubt emerge, they cloud Leontes' mind completely and he commits atrocities of the most ignoble kind. But the play, at last, ends happily. The unmistakable hints of same-sex love, if not an outright homosexual relationship, that we see in the first few acts are finally subsumed in the final act. In other words, the straight narrative exerts itself in the final act and takes the center stage whereas the unruly male friendship is pushed to the margins. The Princess meets his Prince, The King his Queen, and somewhere in the background, a male friendship is restored.
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