Florizel And Perdita’s Relationship: Analyzing Act Iv, Scene Iv

The Winter’s Tale portrays Florizel, Perdita as young lovers. The play is full of heartache and despair, but Florizel and Perdita are portrayed as the epitome of young love. Their relationship stands out as a beacon of hope and joy against a background of hatred and jealousy. As they talk openly about their feelings, Shakespeare’s play shows that the characters love one another. The audience also gets to see Florizel’s poetic comments and how he views Perdita. Perdita wears ‘unusual plants’ and is adorned in flowers. Florizel, however, dresses as Doricles the young shepherd. He comments that Flora looks more like a Flora than a shepherdess. Florizel tells them that Perdita no longer looks like a low-class shepherdess but instead resembles a goddess. Florizel mentions Flora, a Roman goddess who is the goddess of flowers. He is also referring to Perdita as Perdita. It’s clear that this couple is a breather of fresh air, their innocence and youthful love seems to be quite endearing to us. Florizel keeps on praising divinities with his comments that “this is your sheep-shearing”; he basically says that she is so beautiful, even the gods seem to be beneath her and are “petty”. While some might argue that Florizel’s compliments are excessive and exaggerated, this is a sign of love that is based on perception. Perdita has become the center of Florizel’s life. She is so beautiful that even gods can’t match her beauty, and it is obvious to the audience from the beginning. Perdita, a young love of Florizel’s could be described as charming. Shakespeare continues to stress the charm and likeability of Perdita through her responses. Perdita is so charming because she displays such an appealing quality in humility that it becomes clear why Florizel fell in adoration with her. Perdita says, “To chide at you extremes it does not become me: O.pardon, that we name them.” She doesn’t intend to argue with Florizel but she does say that she is far lower than the compliments. She even refers to them as ‘extremes’, which is a sign of how modest she truly is. Perdita refers to Florizel as’my graciouslord’, “your high self” and “the gracious mark of the land”. This is a further sign of her modesty. The audience is well aware of her past and knows that this would not make it necessary for her to call him ‘extremes’. Perdita is not willing to accept the high praise and jokes that Florizel wears ‘a skirt’ and that she is’most goddess-like pimped up’. Perdita is not ashamed of this fact and is happy to share her feelings about Florizel. It is clear that she views herself as a “poor, lowly maid” and Florizel as her view of her as superior than goddesses. Perdita’s fearful side shows despite their sweet exchanges. Perdita was afraid of what Polixenes would think about her ‘noble’son’ if he found him ‘vilely binding up’ with someone as lowly than she is. This was not a normal fear in Shakespearean times when a nobleman married a commoner to make love. It was not unusual for royal marriages to be arranged. In fact, most royal marriages were arranged. Perdita is not aware of her nobility. Perdita is very nervous about Perdita being together. She feels like she doesn’t fit the part as princess. Her clothes are called ‘borrowed flaunts’. This is because they hide the truth that she is not a person of nobility. As she contemplates the potential consequences of their relationship, she reveals her fear when Florizel has to ‘change this situation’ and perhaps abdicate as heir of the throne. Her conclusions of death and abdication are strong examples of the complexity of love. Florizel also shows the romanticism of love when he uses Perdita’s cynical view to reassure him by using the example given by the roman gods. He states that the gods themselves have taken upon themselves the form of beasts to show their love. These transformations are considered a ‘pieces of beauty’ by Florizel because of their motivations. Perdita continues to have confidence in Florizel. He says that they are more beautiful than the gods because they have better virtues. Florizel sees her as his equal, treating her with respect. Leontes may be misunderstood as he had made disparaging comments about Hermione’s ‘flax-wenchness’, which implied that all women in the country were lacking morality. Florizel claims that he looks beyond the class distinction and treats his woman well. He promises to keep his promise to be’most consistent’ with her and will always be faithful. This proves Leontes’ stereotype wrong. Florizel’s determination and hopefulness are evident towards the end. Perdita, having shared her worries, and made pessimistic statements, says he will not think the ‘forced thinking’ that makes him feel unnatural. Perdita also hears him say that he can’t be anything to anyone nor mine, and that he’s useless without her. It is a sign of how humble he really is. The conversation ends on a positive note as he tells Perdita that he will ‘lift your countenance like the day of celebration for that nuptial which also we have sworn to bring’. He is basically telling Perdita that she should be as happy as if that day were his wedding day. Leontes was a man who had no choice but to insist on Perdita becoming his wife. Perdita is a young couple who are determined to keep Perdita his wife despite any obstacles. This makes Perdita hopeful and resilient and brings hope after previous tragic events. Some might say their relationship is idealised love, and this is what most people seek after. It’s easy enough to see how many would agree with that statement. Their relationship is like fresh air in relation to the rest. Leontes explains that after suffering so much pain and suffering, Leontes is like a spring to the Earth. He says they ‘purge every infection from our atmosphere’, as if it were a way to renew all things and get rid of the hate. They have symbolic meaning as they are believed to be the start of a new age of love. Their relationship is a source of joy for them and the people around them. The couple radiates a pure, innocent love. This is a beautiful thing. Florizel and Perdita’s unwavering commitment to marriage is what makes their relationship so remarkable. We can see how passionate he is about Perdita from the passage. However, his unwavering determination to marry her is what keeps them together strong even in the face of disaster. Leontes asks Florizel about his marital status and he reveals that they have not been married. He then replies directly, “she, once you are my wife”. It is clear that he doesn’t care about her social standing. Leontes also questions the wisdom of their marriage and takes a stand for Polixenes. Florizel then asserts that it is impossible to change the love of Leontes. This statement clearly shows Leontes how he doesn’t care about his opinion. It’s a striking statement, given that both men have demonstrated a similar devotion to an idea in the past. It is important to note that Florizel doesn’t defend their relationship alone. Perdita also has her opinion. Camillo displays his cynicism toward love when he says that ‘affliction alters’ it. She responds with, ‘I think the affliction subdues and not take in the head’. She also shows similar love for Florizel, explaining that even though it may temporarily suppress happiness, true love doesn’t change. They clearly show they are not just having a casual relationship. One might argue that optimism and steadfastness are not possible, at least for the long-term. It is possible to long for someone you love forever. Their relationship also transcends class and politics. While a Prince would not have understood marrying someone from a lower social class, Shakespeare presents them as a foil for Hermione, Leontes, and Florizel. He declares his eternal affection for her before learning her true history. The revelation that her parents are revealed just in the right time allows them to be married, and Polixenes cannot object. Their relationship seems almost perfect. They have had to overcome some challenges, but the gentlemen explain that Perdita’s identity as Leontes’ daughter has been confirmed. They will be able to remove the issue between their relationships and if they marry it will also consolidate a political alliance of both Sicilia/Bohemia. Their fathers would be able reunite them and inflame an old friendship again. This would make the couple and their families happy. Leontes was now free to ’embrace’ his son. The gentlemen’s poetic recounting of the encounter was moving, but it also highlights the inevitability of their relationship. This is why the expression “You can’t please everybody” comes to mind. Their union appears to do exactly the opposite. It seems to tick the secular/political boxes, sentimental concerns aside. This is a great indicator of how idealized their circumstances are. Others may argue that calling them idealized is too bold. Their lives are full of horrible things and ideal relationships are often seen as idyllic. Shakespeare wanted the audience not to only see the characters, but their interactions with each other as complex. He didn’t want them to be simplistic or simplistic. Polixenes reacts to Perdita and Perdita getting married without his approval. Polixenes’ anger mars their previously happy relationship. He calls Perdita her adopted father an ‘old traitor’ and threatens him with hanging while accusing Perdita of being a ‘fresh piece in excellent witchcraft. His anger is escalating when he declares that he’ll ‘have thee beauty scratched by briars.’ He wants to destroy Perdita’s good looks, and inflict her pain for making his son love her. He then calls her a ‘knack’, referring to her as nothing more than a trinket. However the word also implies deceitfulness. This scene shows, despite Florizel’s poetic declarations that he loves Perdita unconditionally, that their relationship wasn’t perfect. Although everything ends in their favor, Florizel’s father can use threats of death to innocent people and hurl disparaging names at his future bride. He claims that she is unable to be worthy of him. They are so unhappy together that Polixenes threaten to ‘devise a murder as cruel for thee, as thou art ready to’t’. Polixenes constantly condemn the couple and make it difficult for them to live together. The passage also shows that they are both afraid and anxious about their relationship. Although they are very close, Perdita is still worried about the future. Perdita tells Florizel to “be gone” after Polixenes’ rage because she knows ‘what will happen to this’. It’s almost as if she’s been shaken out of her fantasy and Perdita says that she’ll continue to milk her sheep and ewes, even though she won’t go any further. It’s clear that her dream is crumbling around and she can no longer pretend that they would ever be together. We see her trepidation and doubt when Florizel fails to keep his promises.

King’. Her realistic outlook once more shows that she realizes that no one can truly match Florizel or their love, regardless of how strong it is. Polixenes was granted the divine right to act in any manner he pleased. He could also do anything he wanted Perdita (and her families) to find out about their son’s relationship. Their relationship is not perfect. They may live in constant fear that they might be exposed. Perdita shows the most typical human emotions. She is afraid of what Polixenes will do, but she also fears losing Florizel. Shakespeare highlights her humanity as well as her fear by being caught in this predicament. Florizel’s comments to her highlight the problems in their marriage. While we have seen the romantic side of him and his love for her, there are some things he says to her that could have a second meaning or a different meaning. This may reveal a different side of their ‘idealised relationship. This is evident when he refers to her as a ‘good falcon’. He may have been referring to the possibility of her marrying him and becoming a royal through his Falconry. His unwavering determination to love her regardless of her status shows in his words. Perdita might be referring to Falcons being powerful, graceful and beautiful. However they can also be connotated as restrained animals. Falconry means training and controlling which could be a reference to his view that she would be subservient, or that he would rule her. This quote is not to be taken out of context. Shakespearean times were marked by inequalities between the sexes. Shakespeare might be suggesting that lovers may not be as idealised as they appear. Shakespeare portrays Florizel and Perdita’s complicated love story in Act IV. It highlights their romanticism, perceptions of each other, fear, vulnerability, and their determination to marry regardless of the odds. While the relationship may be idealized in many different ways, it is clear that there are some problems. There are many things that love is perfect, but Shakespeare also adds terror, death, and other issues to the mix. The couple’s struggles can make them seem more beautiful because of how they handle them. This is why Shakespeare added difficulties to their story.