The Winter's Tale

‘The Winter’s Tale”, grouped amongst the comedies and Shakespeare’s late romances, is the story of loss and redemption. The first three acts are filled with intense psychological drama as Leontes, the wildly jealous King of Sicilia, suspects his pregnant wife, Queen Hermione, of infidelity with his best friend Polixenes, the King of Bohemia. Some critics consider ‘The Winter’s Tale’ to be one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays” because of its mixed genre and the fact that the first three acts are filled with so much tension and drama while the last two acts are comedic and joyous. This play is famous for this “two-part structure” which makes it seem like two entirely different plays have been joined together. “The first half is set amid gloomy

Leontes has destroyed his friendship with Polixenes along with the alliance of their kingdoms. The political conflict in this play begins when Leontes publicly announcing the infidelity of his wife, and thus, it continues the whole way throughout the play. In rejecting the advice of his followers, Leontes denies their right to offer advice: “We need no more of your advice: The matter, the loss, the gain, the ord’ring on’t , is all Properly ours” (Shakespeare. ‘The Winters’ Tale’ II. i. 170). Leontes accusations and Hermione’s trial are “cruelly public” yet the King will not listen to his advisors nor the courtiers of his kingdom. This alone causes political conflict within Leontes’ kingdom. He believes that as a King or man of power, he is free from any obligations to listen to his courtiers and to accept their opinions. He almost becomes a dictator, sharing many of the same views that dictators would encompass. In his moments of jealousy he sees no wrong in the social, private and political conflict he has created. He is not afraid of the repercussions and views himself as somewhat invincible. (Kurland, Stuart M. “‘We Need No More of Your Advice’: Political Realism in The Winter 's Tale.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 31, no. 2, 1991, pp. 367). As Stuart Kurland once argued, Shakespeare realistically depicts the inner workings of

In the beginning we witness the tragedy side to this tragicomedy. This play begins with so much melancholy and despair that it becomes difficult for the audience to foresee the happy ending. In the last two acts we see the transition from tragedy to comedy as the two warring Kings reunite. Typical of any Shakespearean comedy, the play ends with a romance ending. Leontes is reunited with his long lost child Perdita and even his deceased wife, Hermione. Polixenes and Leontes’ friendship is also back on track, rekindling the alliance between Bohemia and Sicilia. The political and social tensions are at bay as both the Sicilian and Bohemian people celebrate the joyous end in Sicilia. Perdita and Florizel are also set to marry. The tone of the play changes drastically as the tragedy of the beginning becomes one of Shakespeare’s most optimistic endings. Unlike Othello, Leontes’ family tragedy was saved after he repented for sixteen years. It is almost as if the play is an endless circle of events as the characters of the play are shown the exact same way as they were in the