The Winter's Tale Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    5.1.93 SH PAULINA = Ed.
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    1. This engraving, the frontispiece to Francis Kirkman’s
The Wits
(1672–73), depicts a number of famous dramatic characters, with Sir John Falstaff and the Hostess in the foreground, but it is most interesting for showing what a curtained “discovery space” at the back of the stage may have looked like: Hermione posed as the statue would have been revealed when Paulina drew the curtain. The space would also have been used when Prospero “discovers” Miranda and Ferdinand playing chess at the climax of
The Tempest
.

SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS
ACT 1 SCENE 1
    Archidamus and Camillo discuss the relationship between Bohemia and Sicilia. Archidamus comments on the “great difference” between the kingdoms. The deliberate placing of Sicilia and Bohemia at “the ends of opposed winds” leads the way for other “opposites” in the play, such as court versus country and comedy versus tragedy.
ACT 1 SCENE 2
    Lines 1–131: Polixenes intends to return home after a nine-month visit to Sicilia. Leontes begs him to stay. Their exchange is courtly, emphasizing the public nature of their roles and the setting, although their references to each other as “brother” suggest a deep personal friendship. Leontes draws his pregnant wife, Hermione, into the conversation and she adds her own pleas that Polixenes will stay. Her language is playful and affectionate toward both men as she reminds them of their childhood friendship. Polixenes’ response is lighthearted as he describes himself and Leontes as “twinned lambs that did frisk i’th’sun,” an image of innocence (and perhaps a harbinger of its loss). Although Hermione joins in with his banter, Leontes’ responses are markedly brief. Polixenes agrees to stay and Leontes says that his wife has only spoken “once” “To better purpose,” which was when she agreed to be his “for ever” by marrying him. Polixenes and Hermione walk apart and Leontes watches them.
    Lines 132–244: Leontes’ aside reveals the intense emotions that have been concealed by his courtly manner. He shows his suspicion and jealousy of Polixenes and Hermione, observing that their relationship is “Too hot, too hot!” (one of many motifs linked to heat and coldness). Although there seems little evidence, he has convinced himself that they are having an affair, and his anger is evident in hisdisjointed speech and base sexual imagery. He turns to his son, Mamillius, and asks if he is indeed his “calf.” The boy responds artlessly, emphasizing his childhood innocence in comparison to the jealousies of the adult world. Leontes finds some reassurance in the boy’s similarity to himself. Polixenes and Hermione notice that he is “unsettled,” but he denies it, commenting on Mamillius’ similarity to himself as a child, and inquiring after Polixenes’ own son. He says that he will walk with Mamillius and asks Hermione to entertain Polixenes, commenting aside that he is “angling now,” introducing the motif of entrapment. He watches them, jealously interpreting their smallest actions as signs of love. Camillo arrives and Leontes sends Mamillius away.
    Lines 245–403: Leontes informs Camillo that Polixenes “will yet stay longer.” Camillo innocently comments that it was Hermione who made him change his mind. Leontes’ aside shows that he assumes that the whole court is “whisp’ring” about him. He confuses Camillo with questions about Polixenes and court rumors, before telling him his suspicions. Leontes insists that Camillo must have heard talk about his “slippery” wife, but Camillo is shocked and refuses to hear his