"The Winter's Tale" encompasses many different underlying themes within its pages. It is important to recognise that the contemporary audience would have reacted to the play very differently to its modern day audience. The attitude towards the portrayal of men and women in "The Winter's Tale" has changed greatly over the years, along with the transmuting status of women. It could easily be argued that the audience in the Middle Ages had many preconceptions of …showed first 75 words of 2876 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2876 total…considered as relatively equal to men, lessening the impact of Shakespeare's moral. However, the feminist critics of today would still find "The Winter's Tale" of crucial importance. The play would aid them in assessing the worth of different individuals throughout the different periods. In analysing the portrayal of women in the play as independent, intelligent characters, juxtaposed with men as irrational intemperate creatures they may be able to achieve this. <Tab/>