The Winter's Tale | William Shakespeare | Neb English Support Class 12

Neb English Support Class 12

The Winter's Tale | William Shakespeare | Neb English Support Class 12

The Winter's Tale 

Table of Contents

SHORT STORYLINE

The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare

King Leontes becomes distrustful of his wife's loyalty; he imprisons her, kills their son, and even banishes their infant daughter. After years, a statue comes to life.

SHORT SUMMARY

The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare

Jealous King Leontes falsely accuses his wife, Hermione, of infidelity with his best friend, and later she dies. Leontes banishes his infant daughter Perdita, who is raised by shepherds for sixteen years and falls in love with the son of King Leontes' friend.  When Perdita comes back home, a statue of Hermione "comes to life," and everyone is reconciled.

DETAILED SUMMARY

The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare

Act I

King Polixenes of Bohemia is eager to return home after a nine-month trip to Sicily to meet his lifelong friend, King Leontes. Frustrated, Leontes asks his friend to delay his departure, but Polixenes refuses. When Leontes' pregnant wife, Hermione, manages to persuade Polixenes to stay, Leontes suspects that his wife has been unfaithful to his friend. His obsession grows until Leontes asks Camillo, his cupbearer, to poison Polixenes. Instead of doing so, Camillo warns Polixenes. They flee the country together, leaving Hermione and her beloved son Mamilius to face the king's wrath.

Act II

Leontes gives Hermione no evidence against her other than his own suspicions. In captivity, Hermione gives birth to her baby girl. Leontes orders two of his messengers to interrogate the Oracle at Delphi to prove his delusions right. Paulina, Hermione's friend, takes the infant child and tries to persuade Leontes to free his wife and overcome his doubts. Instead, it only infuriates him more. He threatens Paulina, the baby, and Paulina's husband, Antinogus, too. Leontes orders Antigonus to put the child into exile.

Act III

Weakened from giving birth to her child, Hermione is brought to trial, and her innocence is proven by a message from the Oracle. The news comes that Mamilius has died of distress over his mother's arrest. Hermione collapses and is carried away. Paulina soon returns with news of Hermione's death, and Leontes faces reality and repents for his worst actions.

Antigonus has a dream in which Hermione instructs him to abandon the child on a beach in Bohemia. He does so and is mauled to death by a bear before he can leave.  Later, a shepherd and his son find the child and take her home.

Act IV

At the beginning of Act 4, Time, personified as a character, states that sixteen years have passed since the exile of the infant. He mentions that Leontes repents of the loss of his wife and children.

In Bohemia, Camillo, the old cupbearer of King Leontes, asks Polixenes if he can return home. Polixenes denies his request to return home. He mentions the story of how his son, Florizel, met and fell in love with a shepherd's daughter named Perdita. The relationship is far below the social level of the prince, and thus Polixenes is not pleased. Both Polixenes and Camillo attend the feast in disguise, where they are entertained by dancers. When Florizel and Perdita's betrothal takes place, Polixene reveals himself. He denounces Florizel and threatens the shepherd and his son for allowing Perdita to befriend the Prince.

Act V

Camillo, still eager to see his homeland, helps Florizel and Perdita escape and travel to Sicily. They are pursued by the shepherds, who in turn are pursued by Polixenes and Camillo.  At the court of Leontes, Florizel introduces himself and his beloved as ambassadors on behalf of his father. Leontes, still in mourning over his actions, welcomes his former friend's son and his new wife. Polixenes and Camillo soon arrive, explaining the reason for Florizel's escape.

Leontes learns that Perdita is his long-lost, exiled daughter. With Perdita now a suitable mate for Florizel, everyone is reunited, and Leontes and Polixenes make amends for their past. As the play ends, Paulina reveals a newly completed statue of the dead Queen Hermione. Everyone, especially Leontes, comments on how beautiful and realistic the statue looks. At Paulina's instruction, music plays, and finally, the statue comes to life.

Both Florizel and Perdita are betrothed, Leontes and his queen are restored to each other, and, as a reward for her immense care, Paulina is given Camillo to be her new husband.

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HENRY IV PART 1 BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE SUMMARY

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