A Winter’s Tale is one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays and was officially published in the First Folio in 1623. Although it was originally classified as a comedy, editors have relabeled the play as one of Shakespeare’s late romances, which is a group of publications known for seemingly tragic openings to stories which are later resolved in humorous or happy ways. The Tempest is another example of a late romance, otherwise known as a “problem play”.
The story of A Winter’s Tale focuses on two childhood friends who grow to be kings of separate lands: Leontes, the King of Sicily, and Polixenes, the King of Bohemia. As adults, the two rekindle their friendship when Polixenes pays a visit to Leontes. However, Polixenes decides to return home before Leontes feels it is time. Leontes sends his wife, Hermione, to convince Polixenes to stay, which she does quite successfully. Leontes begins to feel rage and jealousy and claims the only way Hermione could have convinced Polixenes so easily is by having an affair with him. Leontes immediately begins to plot his revenge on his two former allies. The rest of the story is for Carleton’s Players to reveal.
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