The Winter's Tale, to be a boy eternal; makes old hearts fresh; the infinite doings of the world

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The Winter’s Tale

     Though a tale of suspicion and jealousy, it is ultimately redemptive.  Leontes jealousy rivals Othello’s in this regard, although Harold Bloom says that Leontes is Othello, but is his own Iago, as he fans the flames of his jealousy. 

     There is the classic, powerful narrative of jealousy (1.2.185) that starts “Is whispering nothing?” with its crescendo of ‘nothings’. There is also the moving portrayal of the deep love of Florizel for the orphanded Perdita, who is as pure as the Shepherd who raises her.   The innocence of youth and childhood friendships is poignantly portrayed by Polixenes  (1.2.62).      

     The painful accusations of King Leontes against the beautiful, humorous, intelligent Hermione is heartbreaking although some of this pain is taken away by his penitence and devotion to her at the end of the play.         

Characters:

Leontes: King of Sicilia

Hermione: Leontes' wife  (whom Leontes accuses of cheating on him with his best friend from childhood, Polixenes, King of Bohemia)

Perdita: daughter of Leontes and Hermione, banished by Leontes for supposedly being illegitimate

Mamillius: son of Leontes and Hermione, Prince of Sicilia

Polixenes: King of Bohemia and best friend of Leontes

Florizel: Prince of Bohemia, son of King Polixenes, who marries Perdita

Paulina

 

Quotes:

“makes old hearts fresh” Camillo.  1.1.41

 “we were…two lads that thought there was no more behind (to come)

But such a day tomorrow as today,

And to be a boy eternal.

We were as twin lambs that did frisk I’ th’ sun.

What we changed (exchanged) was innocence for innocence”  Polixenes. 1.2.62-69

 

“By this we gather that you have tripped since?” Hermione.  1.2.75

 

“Look on me with your welkin (sky blue) eye.” Leontes.  1.2.136

 

“He makes a July day as short as December.”  Polixenes about his joy with spending time with his son, Florizel.  1.2.170-171

“And his pond fished by his next neighbor…It is a bawdy planet.”  Leontes.  1.2.195, 201

“…the infinite doings of the world.”  Camillo.  1.2.253

 

“Is whispering nothing?  Is leaning cheek to cheek?...

…Is this nothing?  Why then the world and all that’s in ‘t is nothing,

The covering sky is nothing, Bohemia nothing,

My wife is nothing, nor nothing have these nothings,

If this be nothing.”  Leontes.   1.2.285-296   (nine ‘nothings’)

 

“I saw his heart in ‘s face.”  Polixenes.  1.2.448

 

“A sad tale’s best for winter.”  Mamillius.  2.1.25

 

“I do come with words as medicinal as true.”  Paulina.  2.3.26

 

“I would there were no ages between ten and three-and-twenty, or that youth

Would sleep out the rest; for there is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting.”  Shepherd, who raises Perdita.  3.3.58-62

 

“Flora, peering in April’s front.”  Florizel about Perdita’s beauty.  4.4.2-3

 

“For I cannot be Mine own, nor anything to any, if I be not thine.”  Florizel to Perdita, whom he will marry.   4.4.43-45

“…the year growing ancient,

Not yet on summer’s death, nor on the birth

Of trembling winter”  Perdita.  4.4.79-81

 

“The marigold that goes to bed wi’ th’ sun,

And with him rises, weeping; these are flow’rs

Of middle summer, and I think they are given

To men of middle age.”  Perdita, giving flowers to Polixenes, her future father-in-law. 4.4. 105-108

 

“When you speak, sweet, I’d have you do it ever.”  Florizel to Perdita.  4.4.136-137

 

“nothing she does or seems But smacks of something greater than herself, too noble for this place.”  Polixenes about Perdita.  4.4.157-159

 

“He says he loves my daughter;

I think so too; for never gazed the moon

Upon the water, as he’ll stand and read,

As ‘twere my daughter’s eyes; and, to be plain,

I think there is not half a kiss to choose

Who loves another best.”  Shepherd speaking to Polixenes about Perdita and and Florizel.  4.4.171-176

 

Moon references:

 “the wat’ry star” Polixenes. 1.2.1

“…you may as well Forbid the sea for to obey the moon.” Camillo.  1.2.427-428

 

“He says he loves my daughter;

I think so too; for never gazed the moon

Upon the water, as he’ll stand and read,

As ‘twere my daughter’s eyes”  Shepherd.  4.4.171

 

Vocabulary:

Tongue-tied, Delphos, Apollo’s temple, honey-mouthed, Cytheria (Venus), officious