Susan Snyder Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter ’ s Tale

Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter’s Tale Thesis Statement: Susan Snyder thinks that it takes away his palpable physical reality to remove Mamillius from motherly care. She examines implications of Leontes ’ s sudden removal of his son from the nursery world and its materal figures. Leontes ’ s sudden appropriation of Mamillius looks like a violent and perhaps masculinizing of his son. Thesis Statement: Susan Snyder thinks that it takes away his palpable physical reality to remove Mamillius from motherly care. She examines implications of Leontes ’ s sudden removal of his son from the nursery world and its materal figures. Leontes ’ s sudden appropriation of Mamillius looks like a violent and perhaps masculinizing of his son.

Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter’s Tale I. Boundary between childhood/nursery world and male society: coats vs. breeches I. Boundary between childhood/nursery world and male society: coats vs. breeches A. The age of Mamillius A. The age of Mamillius 1. Mamilliu is the same age as Florizel, who in Act 5 is implied to be twenty-one ( ). Hence, when the play begins, sixteen years before, both princes were about five. 1. Mamilliu is the same age as Florizel, who in Act 5 is implied to be twenty-one ( ). Hence, when the play begins, sixteen years before, both princes were about five.

Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter’s Tale B. Female Care B. Female Care 1. The first year of childhood required close, gentle care. 1. The first year of childhood required close, gentle care. 2. Young child dressed in his coat or coats, the skirts worn by young boy-children before they put on the breeches that completed their gendering as a male. 2. Young child dressed in his coat or coats, the skirts worn by young boy-children before they put on the breeches that completed their gendering as a male. 3. Medieval tradition favored keeping boys in care at home until they were seven, not set to training or study but fed and nurtured to growth. 3. Medieval tradition favored keeping boys in care at home until they were seven, not set to training or study but fed and nurtured to growth.

Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter’s Tale C. Separation from Nursery C. Separation from Nursery 1. A Symbol of Breeching 1. A Symbol of Breeching a. Among the upper classes in early modern England the breeching of boys was a formal transition to the next stage of childhood, often coinciding with a shift from nursery and women ’ s care to male tutors and attendants. a. Among the upper classes in early modern England the breeching of boys was a formal transition to the next stage of childhood, often coinciding with a shift from nursery and women ’ s care to male tutors and attendants. b. When a boy took on male attire, it was the outward and visible sign that he was leaving behind the special cherishing accorded to early childhood and setting out on a gendered course that was more strenuous but held appropriate rewards. b. When a boy took on male attire, it was the outward and visible sign that he was leaving behind the special cherishing accorded to early childhood and setting out on a gendered course that was more strenuous but held appropriate rewards.

Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter’s Tale II. Death of Mamillius II. Death of Mamillius A. Mamillius implies in its root mamilla (meaning breast or teat) the young child ’ s strong connection to the maternal body. A. Mamillius implies in its root mamilla (meaning breast or teat) the young child ’ s strong connection to the maternal body. B. Leontes and Paulina both focus on Mamillius ’ s internalization of what has happened to Hermione, his identification with his mother. B. Leontes and Paulina both focus on Mamillius ’ s internalization of what has happened to Hermione, his identification with his mother. C. There is a direct connection between physical death and the psychological identification of child with mother. C. There is a direct connection between physical death and the psychological identification of child with mother.

Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter’s Tale III. Separation of Genders III. Separation of Genders A. Leontes ’ s Premature Rupture of the Mother-Child Bond A. Leontes ’ s Premature Rupture of the Mother-Child Bond 1. Betrayed by his former mirror-comrade Polixenes, Leontes seeks a new one in this loved boy Mamillius, a new twin lamb who will be his mate in another alliance apart from women. 1. Betrayed by his former mirror-comrade Polixenes, Leontes seeks a new one in this loved boy Mamillius, a new twin lamb who will be his mate in another alliance apart from women. 2. Loentes places himself with Mamillius, whose sex and appearance mirror his, apart from the heterosexual pair of Hermione and Polixenes, withdrawing from the adult conversation to commune with his son and sending the others off by themselves. 2. Loentes places himself with Mamillius, whose sex and appearance mirror his, apart from the heterosexual pair of Hermione and Polixenes, withdrawing from the adult conversation to commune with his son and sending the others off by themselves.

Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter’s Tale B. Spatial Separation of Genders B. Spatial Separation of Genders 1. Gathering at the prison, women focused on Hermione and her new born girl. The social space of birth is a collective female space, constituted by the presence of midwives and by the absence of men. 1. Gathering at the prison, women focused on Hermione and her new born girl. The social space of birth is a collective female space, constituted by the presence of midwives and by the absence of men. 2. Leontes is withdrawn among his lords. He has set up his opposite male world, excluding Hermione and other women. 2. Leontes is withdrawn among his lords. He has set up his opposite male world, excluding Hermione and other women.

Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter’s Tale 3. When Paulina brings the child whose sex is alienated from Leontes and crosses over from the woman ’ s world of childbirth to violate his male space, Leontes, speaking through abuse of Paulina and of Antigonus, shows his fear of women ’ s power over men and his need to keep the genders absolutely separated. 3. When Paulina brings the child whose sex is alienated from Leontes and crosses over from the woman ’ s world of childbirth to violate his male space, Leontes, speaking through abuse of Paulina and of Antigonus, shows his fear of women ’ s power over men and his need to keep the genders absolutely separated. 4. The last scene, a church ceremony, resocialized the new mother and reinstituted normal relations between men and women. The churching rite celebrated a woman ’ s deliverance not only from death but from social and sexual sequestration. The play ends a sexual separation inscribed on a whole society. 4. The last scene, a church ceremony, resocialized the new mother and reinstituted normal relations between men and women. The churching rite celebrated a woman ’ s deliverance not only from death but from social and sexual sequestration. The play ends a sexual separation inscribed on a whole society.

Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter’s Tale Conclusion: Mamillius is not ready to live on his own, let alone to play the role Leontes has cast him. His identity is not fully male. Mamillius is clearly on his way to masculinity, but he is not yet arrived there, not yet completely separated from the female matrix. He cannot survive in a world that ruthlessly polarizes male and female. Unable to be an ally of Leontes, Mamillius is only a victim in the play. Conclusion: Mamillius is not ready to live on his own, let alone to play the role Leontes has cast him. His identity is not fully male. Mamillius is clearly on his way to masculinity, but he is not yet arrived there, not yet completely separated from the female matrix. He cannot survive in a world that ruthlessly polarizes male and female. Unable to be an ally of Leontes, Mamillius is only a victim in the play.