romance

The Winter's Tale

c. 1609–1611

Jealousy destroys a family; sixteen years later, art and love put it back together.

Start reading — Act 1, Scene 1 →

Scenes

Act 1

1.1 Sicilia. An Antechamber in Leontes’ Palace. 1.2 The same. A Room of State in the Palace.

Act 2

2.1 Sicilia. A Room in the Palace. 2.2 The same. The outer Room of a Prison. 2.3 The same. A Room in the Palace.

Act 3

3.1 Sicilia. A Street in some Town. 3.2 The same. A Court of Justice. 3.3 Bohemia. A desert Country near the Sea.

Act 4

4.2 Bohemia. A Room in the palace of Polixenes. 4.3 The same. A Road near the Shepherd’s cottage. 4.4 The same. A Shepherd’s Cottage.

Act 5

5.1 Sicilia. A Room in the palace of Leontes. 5.2 The same. Before the Palace. 5.3 The same. A Room in Paulina’s house.

Dramatis personæ

LEONTES King of Sicilia

MAMILLIUS his son

CAMILLO Sicilian Lord

ANTIGONUS Sicilian Lord

CLEOMENES Sicilian Lord

DION Sicilian Lord

POLIXENES King of Bohemia

FLORIZEL his son

ARCHIDAMUS a Bohemian Lord

CLOWN his son

AUTOLYCUS a rogue

HERMIONE Queen to Leontes

PERDITA daughter to Leontes and Hermione

PAULINA wife to Antigonus

EMILIA a lady attending on the Queen

MOPSA shepherdess

DORCAS shepherdess

TIME as Chorus