The Winter's Tale

I must say, I am intrigued by The Winter's Tale. I have not previously read it nor even heard much about it, other than perhaps the title. I will share a few of my thoughts on it in my ignorance, or at least what comes to mind when considering a play with such a title.



The name "The Winter's Tale" reminds me, for–I think–obvious reasons, C.S. Lewis's novel, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I think of a fantastical land overcome with snow and ice caused by some evil and the need to purge the land of its cause. Something tells me this isn't the story of The Winter's Tale, though I could be wrong.

However, I have always found the way that Shakespeare uses the imagery of winter in his works to be quite interesting. I remember studying a sonnet in grade school (unfortunately, I can't remember which, and I am sure there are many to which this applies) and finding Shakespeare to be using the imagery of winter to refer to old age, or the loss of youth. I think that similar imagery has been used to convey the idea of death or even simply of some presence of evil in one's life. I expect there to be some significance to the title of this play, likely similar to these I have listed. (Then again, maybe this play just takes place in the season of winter? Could I really be overanalyzing Shakespeare?)

I just looked up a brief synopsis of the conflict in The Winter's Tale. I quote it here:

Leontes, the king of Sicilia, is the protagonist of the play. As the play opens, he is a happy man, blessed with a noble queen, Hermione; an affectionate childhood friend, Polixenes; a promising child Prince, Mamillius and loyal courtiers. However, he becomes unduly possessed by overwhelming jealousy as he suspects an illicit relationship between his friend and his wife. Jealousy drives him to tyranny and he loses all his friends. He even disowns his infant daughter and abandons her. After he has wreaked havoc on his life, he undergoes a great sense of remorse once he realizes the nature of his sin. After a long period of penitence and atonement, he regains all that he had lost. (via pinkmonkey.com)

 Perhaps winter refers to the jealousy that is experience by Leontes? This remains to be seen. I will begin reading this play shortly, and I am sure Shakespeare won't' disappoint.