Eribert L.

Servan
II – Delta

THE WINTER’S TALE

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

148 pages

TYPE OF BOOK

Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale is categorized as a play, more precisely as a

tragicomedy.

NAME AND DESCRIBE THE CHARACTERS

LEONTES - The King of Sicilia, and the childhood friend of the Bohemian King
Polixenes. He is the father of Mamillius and husband to Queen Hermione.

FLORIZEL - Florizel is the son of Polixenes – King of Bohemia. He falls in love

with Perdita, and wishes to marry her. His father objects to the marriage,
however, and warns Florizel that his inheritance will be revoked if he ever seeks
Perdita again.

ARCHIDAMUS - A Sicilian lord, he accompanies Cleomenes to Delphi. Emilia.

One of Hermione's ladies-in-waiting. Archidamus. A lord of Bohemia.

CLEOMENES- The young son of Leontes and Hermione.

 POLIXENES- The King of Bohemia, and Leontes's boyhood friend. He is falsely
accused of having an affair with Leontes's wife, and barely escapes Sicilia.

MAMILLIUS- The young prince of Sicilia, Leontes and Hermione's son. He dies,
perhaps of grief, after his father wrongly imprisons his mother. 

MOPSA- One of Hermione's attendants, who meets Paulina when she goes to
see Hermione in jail.

AUTOLYCUS- Autolycus was a successful robber who had even the power of
metamorphosing both the stolen goods and himself. 

PERDITA- The daughter of Leontes and Hermione. Because her father believes
her to be illegitimate, she is abandoned as a baby on the coast of Bohemia

HERMOINE- The virtuous and beautiful Queen of Sicilia.

ANTIGONUS- A Sicilian noblewoman and the wife of Antigonus, Paulina is

strong-willed and stands up for Hermione when Leontes accuses her of being
unfaithful.

SUMMARY OF THE PLOT

The Winter's Tale tells the story of King Leontes of Sicilia, who becomes consumed by
irrational jealousy and accuses his wife, Queen Hermione, of infidelity with their mutual
friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia. Despite Hermione's pleas of innocence, Leontes
refuses to believe her and brings her to trial.

During the trial, Hermione appears to die of grief and Leontes is filled with remorse.
Meanwhile, their young son, Mamillius, also dies due to the stress caused by his father's
actions. Paulina, a loyal friend to Hermione, reveals a newborn baby girl, Perdita, as
evidence of the queen's innocence, but Leontes orders the child to be abandoned.
Sixteen years later, in Bohemia, Perdita has grown into a beautiful shepherdess. She
falls in love with Florizel, the son of King Polixenes, who is disguised as a shepherd.
When Polixenes discovers their relationship, he angrily objects and threatens to disown
Florizel.

In the final act, the characters from Sicilia and Bohemia gather for a sheep-shearing
festival where all is revealed. Perdita is recognized as the long-lost daughter of Leontes
and Hermione. Leontes, having learned the truth of his wife's fidelity and his daughter's
survival, is filled with joy and remorse.

The play ends with Leontes, Hermione, and Perdita reunited as a family, and Polixenes
accepting their union. The broken friendships are repaired, and forgiveness and
reconciliation prevail, highlighting the power of time and forgiveness to heal deep
wounds.

DESCRIBE THE THEME

The theme of The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare can be described as

forgiveness and reconciliation. The play explores the destructive consequences of
jealousy and the healing power of forgiveness. It focuses on the journey of the
characters from a world of suspicion, betrayal, and suffering to a world of redemption
and reconciliation. The theme is portrayed through the contrast between the first half of
the play, which is filled with darkness, despair, and cruelty, and the second half, which
is characterized by redemption, joy, and forgiveness. Ultimately, The Winter's Tale
emphasizes the importance of letting go of past wrongs and embracing forgiveness as a
means to restore harmony and rebuild relationships.
 PERSONAL REFLECTION or POV

As a reader, I find The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare to be a captivating and

unique play. The shifting perspectives and emotional depth of the characters make it a
truly memorable and thought-provoking experience.

The Winter's Tale begins with a dark and intense atmosphere, as King Leontes of Sicilia
becomes consumed by jealousy and suspicion towards his wife, Hermione, and his best
friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia. Leontes' irrational behavior and his descent into
madness create a sense of tension and unease, leaving the audience on edge as they
witness the destruction caused by his unfounded accusations.

However, the play takes an unexpected turn with the introduction of the character of
Paulina, Hermione's loyal and fearless friend. Paulina's determination to prove
Hermione's innocence brings a glimmer of hope and redemption. Her unwavering belief
in the power of truth and justice is inspiring, and her unwavering loyalty to her friend is
admirable.

The second half of the play takes an entirely different tone. It leaps forward in time and
shifts from the tragedy of Leontes' actions to the pastoral setting of Bohemia. The
transition from tragedy to comedy is quite abrupt, but it serves to highlight the theme of
healing and reconciliation. The characters introduced in the second half, such as
Perdita and Florizel, bring a sense of lightness and joy to the story.

Ultimately, The Winter's Tale explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the
power of time to heal wounds. The resolution offers a sense of closure and hope as lost
family members are reunited, past wrongs are acknowledged, and friendships are
reconciled.

Overall, The Winter's Tale is a beautifully crafted play that showcases Shakespeare's
ability to delve into the complexities of human emotions and relationships. Its
combination of tragedy and comedy, along with its exploration of themes that are still
relevant today, make it a timeless piece of literature.
LIKE AND DISLIKE ABOUT THE BOOK

LIKE

1. Unique Genre: The Winter's Tale is a tragi-comedy, blending elements of both

tragedy and comedy. This genre allows for a diverse range of emotions and keeps the
audience engaged throughout the play.

2. Evocative Language: As with all of Shakespeare's works, The Winter's Tale is filled
with beautiful and poetic language. The dialogue is rich and eloquent, creating vivid
imagery and enhancing the emotional depth of the characters.

3. Complex Characters: The play features well-developed characters with complex

motivations and emotions. From the jealous and tormented Leontes to the virtuous and
steadfast Hermione, the characters in The Winter's Tale offer a deep exploration of
human nature.

4. Themes of Forgiveness and Redemption: The Winter's Tale explores themes of

forgiveness and redemption, offering a powerful message about the ability to heal and
move forward. This makes it a relevant and resonant play for audiences of all time
periods.
DISLIKE

1. Abrupt Shift in Tone: One criticism of The Winter's Tale is the sudden shift from
tragedy to comedy in the second half of the play. Some readers may find it jarring or
disjointed, and the transition can be difficult to navigate.

2. Complex Plot: The Winter's Tale has a convoluted and intricate plot, involving various
subplots and a time jump of sixteen years. This complexity can make the play
challenging to follow for some readers or viewers.

3. Lack of Major Female Characters: While the play features strong and influential
female characters like Hermione and Paulina, they are relatively few in number
compared to male characters. Some critics argue that Shakespeare's treatment of
women in The Winter's Tale falls short in terms of representation.

4. Obscure References: Like many of Shakespeare's plays, The Winter's Tale contains
numerous allusions and references that may be unfamiliar to modern audiences. These
obscure references can make the play more difficult to fully appreciate without
background knowledge or context.