Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Hermione's Use of Words
In The Winter’s Tale, I think Hermione’s use of words early in the play is very interesting. In Act I, Scene II, Hermione convinces Polixenes to stay using a threat, when she says, “Force me to keep you as a prisoner, / Not like a guest: so you shall pay your fees,” a statement that she will keep him prisoner and fine him if he does not stay willingly. It is interesting, then, that Leontes tells Hermione that she, “never spok’st / To better purpose,” except when she agreed to marry him, drawing a parallel between Hermione’s persuasive words and her acceptance of a marriage proposal. This is interesting because the first words (Hermione’s agreement to marry) mark the start of their marriage, while the second words (convincing of Polixenes) start its dissolution, as Leontes’ jealousy and irrationality spurs from Hermione’s persuasive words. In connecting the two, Leontes points out the start and end of his marriage by Hermione's words, and in this play, words do not always mean what they should.
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I think I can respond to this comment in that it connect with a lot of the language Othello uses while he is speaking, especially since is language is all the more analyzed when he is talking to other people because he is a different race. In Act 1, scene iii, lines 126 through 140 there is very strong, vehement language that displays the coarseness of Othello’s past which he had to dig deep for because Brabantio “questioned [him] the story of [his] life.” The word “disastrous” is paired up with “chances,” displaying unsteady experiences that Othello has risked. “Imminent deadly breach” is a six-syllable phrase that perfectly sums up the hardships Othello periled and overcame in his past. Lastly, the word that represents a profuse amount of an arrogant lack of respect, “insolent,” describes the white race. Othello speaks these strong words while describing the experience he had with white men, the “insolent” race he is describing. Although the language is harsh, it is eloquent, as it is spoken from an educated black man who himself believes what he speaks is forceful and rough, as he casts himself as an outsider although he is nothing but the sort. This short passage is a story within itself as Othello recites his experience with Brabantio within a continuing monologue that represents and recounts his victorious and heroic, laudable past.
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