The Supernatural in The Winters Tale: A Study

Abstract

Shakespeare provided the world with great literature and half of it filled with
Supernatural. No doubt that he incorporated supernatural in his plays not only as dramatic
device but also to give us a picture of that unknown realm. Was Shakespeare a firm believer
of the supernatural? As always Shakespeare is hard to pin down to such a thought. But
Shakespeare is the only known poet who has dealt with maximum forms of supernatural
elements and entities extensively, effectively, effortlessly and honestly, which was known to
his contemporary society. Shakespeare was or rather is the only person who took use of
various supernatural elements throughout his plays. It may be a Ghost, an Apparition, a
Fairy, Astrology or an Omen, one can name any supernatural element and we can find that
Shakespeare is using it effectively in his plays. The play The Winters Tale is beautiful
blend of exotic magic and stereotyped characters and dramatic situations. This study of
supernatural has power to take one beyond the understanding of logical thinking pattern. It is
not always spiritual, I must say, but it uplifts one over ones mundane life.

Keywords : Shakespeare, Supernatural, Fairy, Astrology, Omen, Ghost, Magic, Apparition.