Of hatred and jealousy in 'Winter's Tale'

By Gwen Herat

Wherever or whenever Shakespeare was able to 'clump-down' on a female character, he never hesitated to do so. He saw them as homicidal, suicidal, unfaithful, ambitious, revengeful etc.. This trait comes out loud and clear in "Winter's Tale", the victim being Hermione, wife of Leontes, King of Sicilia.

Written in 1611 and based in Bohemia and Sicilia, the tragedy brings out the darker side of man and the power to do evil as and when he wishes to.

The innocent Queen Hermione, victim of a great misunderstanding.

The King of Bohemia, Polixenes, is a visitor for nine months at the court of Leontes, King of Sicilia during which time, he suspects that his Queen, Hermione had been unfaithful and their unborn child's father to be Polixenes.

His rage is so furious that he plans to poison him through Camilio, a Sicilian Lord. But Camilio who feels that Polixenes is innocent, warns him of the impending danger. Immediately, their guest departs for Bohemia.

Leontes orders his wife to be thrown in to prison and their elder child, Memillius removed from her care. Distraught, she gives birth to her second son in prison. Pauline brings the babe to Leontes in the hope that it will move his heart. Instead, he commands Antigonus, Paulina's husband, to abandon the 'bastard by Polixenes in some desert.

At the trial of Hermione:

Leontes 'Read the Indictment'

Officer (reads); Hermione, Queen to the worthy Leontes, King of Sicilia thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason; in committing adultery with Polixenes, King of Bohemia and conspiring with Camillio to take away the life of our sovereign lord the King, thy Royal husband; the pretence where of being by circumstances partly laid open; thou Hermione, contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject, didn't counsel and aid them, for their better safely, to fly away by night' (ACT III, Scene I)

Arrives a massages from the Delphic oracle to declare the Queen's innocence. Leontes who refuse to credit it, is taken aback when he is informed of the death of his young son, Mamilius. Hermione faints and is carried away. Later, Paulina enters and announces that his Queen is dead.

In repentance, the king vows a life - long mourning. In the meantime, Antigonus leaves the babe in Bohemian shores with the name he gave her (Perdita) and gold in bundle. Then he vanishes. A shepherd and his son find the child and decide to adopt her.

Sixteen years later, the play develops into a highly strung love affair and moves with speed. Shakespeare had made this play into two stories with the same characters surfacing to make it exciting.

From hatred and revenge, he turns it into compassion, love and trust.

In Bohemia:

They are come

Your mother was most true to wedlock, Prince

For she did print your royal father off.

Conceiving you, Were I but twenty-one

Your father's image is so hit in you

His very air, that I should call you brother

As I did him and speak of something wildly.

By us performed before, most dearly welcome.....

ACT. V. Scene.1

Florizel is in love with Perdita who has been brought up as a shepherdess. She is sixteen years of age and a remarkable young woman of great beauty. At a sheep-shearing feast, King Polixenes disguised and along with Camillio, threaten to disinherit his son if he continued to love Perdita. He also warns Perdita that she will put to death if they do not leave each other. However, Camillio advises them to go to Sicilia and tell Polixenes in the hope of a reconciliation. Shepherd and Clown with their proofs of Perdita's discovery leave for Sicilia where after many a heart-burn, Leontes and Polixenes are reconciled and bless their children, Florizel and Perdita. They all leave for Paulina's chapel to see the remarkable 'statue' of Hermione. Kissing it, Leontes finds that after all these years, his wife is still alive, long cared for by Paulina.

Winter's Tale, a unlike shakespeare's other plays, was less popular on stage. It did not appear for over a century before 1741 when it was boarded at Convent Garden. Under the title of Florizel and Perdita, this play was staged Drury Lane 1756 in two Acts. The Thespian, Sarah Siddons was Hermione and as Perdita (double acting) at the Lyceum in 1887. Many versions followed until revival in 1955 at the Royal Shakespeare Centre. Christopher Plummer was Leontes at the stratford - ontario version in 1958.