The Winter's Tale Play
The Winter's Tale begins with Polixenes, the
King of Bohemia, deciding to return home to Bohemia
after visting his old friend Leontes in Sicily. Leontes,
the King of Sicily, wants Polixenes to stay a little
longer, asking Polixenes' beautiful wife Hermione to
convince him to stay. This backfires quite badly since
Leontes now believes his wife may be having an affair
with Polixenes, after all, she was able to convince
him to stay... Overcome with jealousy, Leontes prepares
to poison Polixenes, even beginning to doubt whether
he is the true father of his son Mamillius.... Camillo,
ordered to poison Polixenes and aware of what Leontes
is capable of, convinces Polixenes to flee, the two
heading for Bohemia. Leontes jealousy has not abated
however, Leontes quickly putting his wife in jail and
preparing to make her stand trial for infidelity.
Hermione gives birth to her daughter in jail whilst
awaiting trial, the baby being shown to Leontes in the
hope Leontes will finally see reason. Leontes though,
thinking the child may not be his, does not acknowledge
the child, disowning her and then ordering Antigonus
to leave the baby on the far off coast of Bohemia to
die... Following Leontes' orders, the baby is duly placed
on the coastline to die, Antigonus being eaten by a
bear shortly thereafter... The trial of Hermione continues.
The Delphic Oracle's judgement in the trial is that
Hermione is innocent but this falls on Leontes' deaf
ears, the trial continuing despite judgement being given.
Overcome by grief for his mother, Mamillius, Leontes
and Hermiones' only son, dies. Leontes now begins to
realise just how much he has lost, ordering that Hermione
be treated with care upon leaving the courtroom but
soon she too dies. Overcome with guilt and remorse for
what he has done, Leontes now shuts himself off from
soceity...
The child Leontes would not acknowledge, however, has
not died; a shepard finds the little baby, taking her
in and raising her as if his very own. Sixteen years
pass and the abandoned daughter, Perdita, falls for
Polixenes' son Florizel. Polixenes disapproves of his
son loving the daughter of a shepard, after all, Florizel
is a Prince. Camillo, seeing the two in love, helps
the two lovers escape for Sicily where the two are warmly
received at the court of Leontes. Polixenes and the
shepard soon arrive, Leontes finally making peace with
his old friend. Perdita is soon revealed tby the shepard
to be Leontes' daughter overjoying Leontes and Polixenes
since their two children shall soon marry. Leontes,
however in seeing the beautiful Perdita is reminded
of Hermione, her death and how badly he treated her...
Paulina, Hermione's maid who reported Hermione's death,
leads Leontes, Perdita and company to see a statue of
Hermione. It is no statue... They see Hermione, alive
and well! We quickly learn that Queen Hermione has simply
lived in hiding, praying for the return of her daughter
one day. Leontes family is now reunited with the return
of Hermione and Perdita. Leontes, deeply appreciative
of everything they have Camillo and Paulina have done
for his family, allows the two to marry...
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene I, Scene
II
Act II
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
Act IV
Chorus, Scene
I, Scene II, Scene
III - Part I, Scene
III - Part II
Act V
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
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