The Winter’s Tale abbreviated

A fresh look at Shakespeare

Synopsis

The play opens with Leontes, the king of Sicilia (Sicily) acting as host to his long-time boyhood friend, Polixenes, the king of Bohemia. Leontes and his queen Hermione have a young son, Mamillius. We’re told the son “is a gentleman of the greatest promise.” The action begins with Leontes doing his best to encourage Polixenes to extend his stay; Polixenes insisting he must leave, saying, “My affairs drag me homeward.” Hermione actively joins her husband’s effort to encourage Polixenes to stay with them a little longer. Leontes asks her, “Is he won yet?” She responds, “He’ll stay my lord.” But Leontes then becomes extremely jealous of what he believes to be a too-close relationship between Hermione and Polixenes, saying to himself she does “too playfully touch his hand.” (Jealousy, Act 1, Scene 2)

Leontes calls forward his principal courtier, Camillo, and berates him for being “not honest, a coward, a fool.” He’s upset with Camillo for not telling him of what he perceives to be this adulterous relationship between Polixenes and Hermione. (Fear, Act 1, Scene 2) Having little choice, Camillo agrees to Leontes’ demand that he kill Polixenes. Camillo says since “I am his cupbearer; I will poison him.” Realizing that he “faces ruin whether or not he poisons Polixenes,” Camillo defects to Polixenes, telling him that Leontes believes that Polixenes has “touched his queen forbiddenly” and that the king’s instructions to him are “to murder you.” (Resignation, Act 1, Scene 2) Along with their entourage, Polixenes and Camillo beat a hasty retreat out of Sicily.

We soon learn that Hermione is pregnant and uncomfortable. She asks Mamillius to “sit by us, and tell ‘s a tale.” He offers to tell a “merry tale,” saying, “A sad tale’s best for winter.” Leontes now confronts his wife directly, calling her an “adult’ress,” saying “’Tis Polixenes had made thee swell thus.” A disbelieving Hermione graciously defends her honor, but despite her best efforts her by now very angry husband sends her to prison, where she bears a daughter. (Wife to Husband, Act 2, Scene 1) Leontes then lashes out at his lords, a number of them having questioned his judgment. (Anger, Act 2, Scene 1) Soon after the child’s birth, Paulina, Antigonus’ wife and Hermione’s lady-in-waiting, takes the baby to Leontes, believing she can win him over. (Pride, Act 2, Scene 3) Antigonus is a key aide to Leontes. But when Paulina presents the baby to Leontes, he cries out “This brat is none of mine.” Leontes then turns to Antigonus, saying “Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.” A startled Antigonus denies the accusation, saying “I will do anything possible” to save the child. Leontes takes him up on it, saying “Thou wilt perform my bidding.” Leontes then instructs Antigonus to take the baby girl and to “bear it to some remote and desert place and there leave it.” Separately, having been sent to sacred Delphos, the temple of the oracle Apollo, Cleomenes and Dion return with the oracle’s instructions. We learn more of the oracle’s instructions in a moment. Cleomenes and Dion are also courtiers. Leontes instructs his lords to “summon a session to arraign our most disloyal lady.” (Honor, Act 3, Scene 2)

Hermione is brought before the court and calmly defends her honor; later turning to Apollo’s sealed set of instructions, which are then opened by an officer of the court. Apollo has proclaimed Hermione “chaste” and “Leontes a jealous tyrant.” (Wife to Husband, Act 3, Scene 2) Leontes cries out “There is no truth at all i’ th’ oracle.” We learn that Mamillius has died; Hermione collapses; Leontes then acknowledges his injustice. Paulina enters and severely and publicly criticizes Leontes; reporting that Hermione has died. (Disclosure, Act 3, Scene 2) Paulina promptly apologizes to the king for her outburst.

Meanwhile, Antigonus has taken the baby to the outback, leaving the bundled baby and a box of gold in the “deserts of Bohemia.” Just as he places the baby and the box on the ground a bear approaches and runs him down. (Observation, Act 3, Scene 3) A shepherd finds the child (Perdita). Picking her up he says “I’ll take it up for pity.” Now the Shepherd’s son, having seen the bear maul Antigonus, arrives, opens the box of gold, and then leaves his father and the baby girl to bury Antigonus. With the child in one hand and the gold in the other, the Shepherd yells out to his son, “Let my sheep go. Come, good boy, the nearest way home.”

Father Time then enters to let us know that sixteen years have elapsed between acts three and four. (Fantasy, Act 4, Scene 1)

Camillo now wants to return to Sicilia, “the penitent king, my master, having sent for me.” Polixenes persuades him to stay in Bohemia, now concerned with his son Florizell, who is spending time with the Shepherd’s daughter, who, it is said, has “from very nothing grown into a fortune beyond description.” Polixenes and Camillo in disguise plan to visit the shepherd.

Meanwhile, the Shepherd’s Son, on his way to the market to “buy for our sheep-shearing feast,” meets the “rogue” Autolycus who convinces him that “a once servant of the prince” has robbed him, beat him and “put on him these detestable things.” Autolycus then picks the Shepherd’s Son’s pocket. He lets us know he too will be at the sheep-shearing event. Meanwhile, Florizell and Perdita are on stage, Florizell disguised as Doricles. They realize that she being a shepherd’s daughter and he being a king’s son will cause them problems, but he says “I’ll be thine or not my father’s.” The Shepherd and his son enter. Polixenes and Camillo enter disguised. The sheep-shearing feast begins with singing and dancing. Soon Polixenes has had enough and aside says “’Tis time to part Florizell and Perdita.”

Separately, the Shepherd says, “I give my daughter to him.” Florizell responds, “Contract us ‘fore these witnesses.” A disguised Polixenes interrupts, asking of his son “Have you a father?” Florizell replies, “I have, but what of him?” It goes downhill from there, Polixenes angrily removing his disguise, making some choice comments and exiting. Florizell tells Camillo in confidence that he and Perdita plan to soon sail away. (Love, Act 4, Scene 4) Camillo comes up with a plan. He suggests to Florizell that they “make for Sicilia” and that he’ll help the two of them get there. Later, a disguised Autolycus returns. Camillo provides him with some funds and has him exchange clothes with Florizell. Camillo, Florizell and Perdita exit. Autolycus says to himself, “I understand the business. I hear it.” He plans to continue his “knavery.”

Meanwhile, the Shepherd and his son, on their way to see the king, carry a bundle and a box. The Shepherd’s Son says “There is no other way but to tell the king she’s a child left by the fairies and none of your flesh and blood.” Autolycus, dressed as Florizell, emerges and convinces them that the poor shepherd and his son will be “stoned” and “flayed alive.” He tells them “the king is not at the palace. He is gone aboard a new ship.” The Shepherd’s Son says “He seems of great authority.” The Shepherd offers him money. Autolycus says, “Well, give me the half.” When the Shepherd and his son exit, Autolycus says, “I will bring these two blind ones aboard the prince’s ship.”

Meanwhile, Leontes, Paulina, Cleomenes and Dion are having a candid discussion about Hermione, the king’s lack of an heir, and Apollo’s declaration that “There shall be no heir to the king till his child be found.” Leontes and Paulina agree that he is “never to marry but by her free leave.” (Counsel, Act 5, Scene 1) Prince Florizell and Perdita enter, she described by the servant as “The most peerless piece of earth that e’er the sun shone bright on.” But each time the men mention how attractive the princess is, Paulina reminds them of the beautiful Hermione. Leontes warmly greets Florizell and says that against your father “I have done sin.” (Courtesy, Act 5, Scene 1) They learn that Polixenes has recently arrived in Sicilia, is upset with his son, and has had the Shepherd and his son arrested. Perdita cries “O my poor father.”

Meanwhile, a gentleman enters exclaiming “The oracle is fulfilled; the king’s daughter is found!” Another gentleman enters and tells us how “joy waded in tears” when the two kings greeted each other. (Joy, Act 5, Scene 2) When asked about Antigonus, one of the gentlemen says “He was torn to pieces with a bear,” but that the Shepherd’s Son has “a handkerchief and rings of his.” The same gentleman tells how Paulina “lifted the princess and locked her to her heart.” Paulina and the princess leave to “see her mother’s statue many years in the doing by that rare Italian master, Julio Romano.” The others also leave to see the Queen’s statue. Paulina pulls back the curtain “to reveal Hermione as a statue.” All is quiet as Paulina says “I like your silence. It the more shows off your wonder.” Perdita and Leontes want to touch the statue, but Paulina cries “Patience, the color’s not dry” and “You’ll mar it if you kiss it.” Finally Paulina says “Music, awake her!” Hermione stirs. Leontes says, “O, she’s warm.” Hermione embraces Leontes. Perdita kneels. Paulina says “Go together, you precious winners all.” Leontes suggests Camillo will make her (Paulina) a trusted and worthy husband. (Pride, Act 5, Scene 3)

Principal Characters

Antigonus
Antigonus is a courtier in Leontes’ court and is required to take the new born baby girl into the outback and leave her. Soon after he places the baby and a box of gold on the ground, he is chased down by a bear and killed. He is Paulina’s husband.

Autolycus
Autolycus is a rogue, but a pretty good rogue, and a self-described petty thief, receiving most of his revenue as a pick-pocket. Shakespeare gave him an important role as one who from time to time helps shift the action. Before this tale begins, he had been a servant to Florizell.

Camillo
Camillo is an aide to Leontes, but early on, fearing for his life, leaves for Bohemia with Polixenes, becoming an aide to Polixenes. For sixteen years he remains loyal to Polixenes and in self-imposed exile in Bohemia, but wishes to return to Sicilia. He gets his chance to return near the end of the story.

Florizell
Florizell is Polixenes’ son, the Prince of Bohemia and the heir to the country’s throne. He falls for the beautiful Perdita, a sixteen year old, raised by the Shepherd, who had found her in the “outback.”

Hermione
Hermione is Leontes’ wife and the Queen of Sicilia, accused by Leontes of having an adulterous relationship with his boyhood friend, Polixenes, the King of Bohemia.

Leontes
Leontes is the King of Bohemia, who in an extended jealous rage, learns (falsely) that his queen has died, and that Camillo, his courtier and friend, truly has fled the country. Paulina reports that Hermione died on hearing the news that her only son, the heir to Sicilia’s throne, Mamillius, has died.

Paulina
Paulina is Antigonus’ wife and Hermione’s lady-in-waiting. She is a calm, strong-willed woman, given a major role by Shakespeare, who once again has a leading woman as a wise and stabilizing influence.

Perdita
Perdita is the name given by the Old Shepherd to Leontes and Hermione’s baby daughter, who wrapped in a bundle was left to die in the outback, only to be found by the Shepherd and his son; then raised by the Shepherd’s as his daughter. As was his habit, Shakespeare has her presented as a beautiful, gracious and talented young woman.