Characters of 'The Winter's Tale' Quiz

Answer:

The play dates from 1623 and is generally classed as a comedy, although the first part of the story doesn't have much to laugh about in it. As one of Shakespeare's later plays, it is often called a 'problem' play, not fitting into a particular category, with others calling it a 'romance'.

The story begins in Sicilia where King Leontes is enjoying a visit from his childhood friend Polixenes, also a king, but of Bohemia. Polixines is keen to return home, having already been away for nine months and Leontes cannot dissuade him from this plan.

Leontes decides to ask his wife, Hermione, who is pregnant with their second child, to talk to Polixenes who then decides to stay. Her success sends Leontes into a jealous rage, jumping to the wild conclusion that the child Hermione is carrying must have been fathered by his friend - he's been there nine months, so surely not a coincidence. This paranoia becomes so all-consuming that Leontes decides to have his supposed rival murdered. He recruits Camillo to poison him, but Camillo instead warns Polixenes and the two of them flee to Bohemia.

Their escape just adds to Leontes' convictions and he publicly accuses Hermione of infidelity and has her arrested and imprisoned. She then gives birth to a baby girl, who is named Perdita. Hermione's friend, Paulina, takes the baby to Leontes, but her hope that he may relent doesn't work. Instead, he instructs Paulina's husband, Antigonus, to take the baby and abandon her somewhere deserted to die. Paulina then tells Leontes that Hermione has died.

In the meantime, Leontes has sent messengers, including Dion, to consult an oracle, confident that they will confirm his suspicions. When they return with the oracle's verdict, confirming the innocence of the queen, the Bohemian king and everyone else involved, Leontes realises his mistake and repents. It's too late, though, as his son and heir, Mamillius has died, wasting away from grief at his mother's treatment, leaving him with no wife, no son and no daughter.

Antigonus, meanwhile, has left baby Perdita on a beach in Bohemia, although with the foresight of leaving enough evidence with her to prove her royal heritage. He then has the misfortune to run into a bear, which tears him apart before eating him. 'Exit, pursued by a bear' may well be what most of us remember of the play. Perdita is found by a shepherd family, who decide to raise her as their own, especially as Antigonus has also left a healthy amount of money and gold with her.

The more comedic part of the play now begins. Sixteen years pass, during which Perdita grows into a beautiful young woman who catches the eye of Prince Florizel, son of King Polixenes. They fall in love, but the king's fury is unbounded when he discovers his son's liaison with such a low-born (apparently) girl. Camillo advises the lovers to flee to Sicilia, the shepherd family (who still have the evidence of who Perdita really is) follow, with Camillo and Polixenes also heading for Sicilia.

Leontes, who has remained in mourning during the time which has elapsed, is delighted to be reunited with his daughter and reconciles with his friend. The betrothal between Florizel and Perdita is approved. The climax comes when Paulina reveals that she has had a statue of Hermione made. It is so realistic, that all the characters are stunned to see it and even more so when it suddenly comes to life and Hermione herself comes forward to forgive her husband (undeservedly, in my opinion).

If you're having a TL:DR moment, here's a short summary of the characters: Leontes, the paranoid king who doesn't even have the excuse of an Iago whispering in his ear; Hermione, the innocent 'statuesque' wife; Mamillius, the son who dies due to his father's misconceptions; Polixenes, the falsely accused adulterer; Paulina, the faithful friend;, Antigonus, husband of Paulina and supper for a bear; Camillo, who refuses to murder an innocent man; Dion, the messenger; Perdita, the abandoned daughter; and Florizel, the prince of Bohemia.

I'll gloss over the fact that Bohemia is landlocked and far further from Sicilia than the play indicates.

The wrong answers are Laertes and Fortinbras, from 'Hamlet', Viola from 'Twelfth Night', Hermia and Demetrius from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and Ferdinand from 'The Tempest'.