The Winters Tale, one of Shakespeares very late plays, is filled with improbabilities. Before the conclusion, one character comments that what we are about to see, Were it but told you, should be hooted at / Like an old tale. It includes murderous passions, man-eating bears, princes and princesses in disguise, death by drowning and by grief, oracles, betrayal, and unexpected joy. Yet the play, which draws much of its power from Greek myth, is grounded in the everyday. A winters tale is one told or read on a long winters night. Paradoxically, this winters tale is ideally seen rather than readthough the imagination can transform words into vivid action. Its shift from tragedy to comedy, disguises, and startling exits and transformations seem addressed to theater audiences. The authoritative edition of The Winters Tale from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes: -The exact text of the printed book for easy cross-reference -Hundreds of hypertext links for instant navigation -Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play -Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play -Scene-by-scene plot summaries -A key to the plays famous lines and phrases -An introduction to reading Shakespeares language -An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play -Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Librarys vast holdings of rare books -An annotated guide to further reading Essay by Stephen Orgel The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the worlds largest collection of Shakespeares printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.
This book is part of a book series called Folger Shakespeare Library .
There are 352 pages in this book. This book was published in 2011 by Simon & Schuster .
Rene Weis is Professor of English at University College London and a distinguished editor and biographer of Shakespeare.
This book contains the following story:
The Winter's Tale
"The Winter's Tale" is a play written by William Shakespeare, categorized as one of his late romances. The play is a tale of jealousy, redemption, and the power of time to heal wounds.
Act 1:The play begins in the kingdom of Sicilia, where King Leontes is enjoying the visit of his childhood friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia. However, Leontes becomes suddenly and irrationally jealous, suspecting that his pregnant wife, Queen Hermione, and Polixenes are having an affair. Despite Hermione's protestations of innocence, Leontes orders his loyal servant Camillo to poison Polixenes. Instead, Camillo warns Polixenes and helps him escape to Bohemia.
Act 2: Leontes puts Hermione on trial for adultery and treason, even though she is innocent. Her steadfastness and the oracle of the Delphic Oracle do nothing to sway Leontes. Hermione gives birth to a daughter while in custody, but Leontes refuses to acknowledge the child as his own and orders her to be abandoned in a desolate place.
Act 3: Hermione's newborn daughter, Perdita, is left in Bohemia, where she is found by a shepherd and raised as his own. Sixteen years pass, and the play's tone shifts from tragedy to comedy as the focus moves to Bohemia. Perdita, now a young woman, falls in love with Florizel, Prince of Bohemia, who has disguised himself as a commoner to court her. Unaware of her royal heritage, Perdita dreams of becoming a shepherd's wife.
Act 4: The play returns to Sicilia, where remorseful Leontes, still mourning his lost wife and son, repents for his past actions. Paulina, a noblewoman and Hermione's friend, reveals a statue of Hermione that resembles her perfectly. Leontes is overcome with emotion, believing the statue to be a living Hermione. At this moment, a shepherd arrives from Bohemia with news of Perdita's identity as Leontes' daughter.
Act 5: The two plotlines converge as all the characters travel to Sicilia. Florizel and Perdita are welcomed by Leontes, who forgives them and gives his blessings to their marriage. The truth of Hermione's innocence is confirmed, and the family is reunited. Leontes and Polixenes reconcile their past grievances, and the play ends with a sense of redemption and reconciliation.
"The Winter's Tale" is a complex and intriguing play that explores themes of jealousy, forgiveness, the passage of time, and the power of love to heal wounds and mend broken relationships. The shift from tragedy to comedy, along with the magical elements and themes of redemption, make it a unique and memorable work in Shakespeare's repertoire.
This book features the following characters:
John Shakespeare
This book features the character John Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and actor. He wrote plays, sonnets and verse and is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English Language. Son of a glove maker, he grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon. He married Anne Hathaway and had three children, though one died very young. Shakespeare left Stratford to pursue theatre in London, where he acted at the Globe Theatre, wrote and was part owner of a playing company called 'The Lord Chamberlein's Men' (later 'The King's Men').
Shakespeare
This book features the character Shakespeare.
Mary Arden
This book features the character Mary Arden.
Anne Hathaway
This book features the character Anne Hathaway.
