The Winter's Tale: who's who, timeline and places
Everyone in The Winter's Tale, what happens when, and where, without spoilers: tell us how far you have read and we show only what you already know.
- LeontesSicilia’s king shares a lasting childhood friendship with the King of Bohemia.First seen in scene 1
- PolixenesThe King of Bohemia maintains a childhood friendship with Sicilia’s king through gifts, letters, and messages.First seen in scene 1
- CamilloHe discusses Sicilia’s hospitality and the kings’ lasting friendship with Archidamus.First seen in scene 1
- MamilliusA promising prince, he gives the people hope and the elderly reason to keep living.First seen in scene 1
- HermioneLeontes’s queen persuades Polixenes to stay, drawing her husband’s jealous suspicion.First seen in scene 2
- AntigonusHe defends Hermione’s innocence when Leontes orders her imprisonment.First seen in scene 3
- CleomenesLeontes sends him with Dion to consult Apollo’s oracle.First seen in scene 3
- DionHe accompanies Cleomenes on Leontes’s mission to consult Apollo’s oracle.First seen in scene 3
- PaulinaA defender of the imprisoned queen, she offers to bring her newborn daughter before the king.First seen in scene 4
- PerditaThe imprisoned queen’s newborn daughter arrives early but healthy.First seen in scene 4
- ShepherdHe finds the abandoned baby and gold on the Bohemian coast.First seen in scene 8
- ClownThe shepherd’s son reports Antigonus’s destruction and the sinking of the ship.First seen in scene 8
- FlorizelHe is the King of Bohemia’s son, introduced after the passage of sixteen years.First seen in scene 9
- AutolycusA former servant of Prince Florizel, he lives by petty theft and tricks Clown.First seen in scene 11
- Scene 1
Camillo and Archidamus discuss the kings’ lasting friendship and the hope inspired by Prince Mamillius.
- Scene 2
Hermione persuades Polixenes to stay, and Leontes mistakes their friendliness for evidence of adultery.
- Scene 2
Ordered to poison Polixenes, Camillo warns him and agrees to help him escape.
- Scene 3
Leontes separates Mamillius from Hermione, imprisons her, and sends Cleomenes and Dion to consult Apollo’s oracle.
- Scene 4
Paulina learns that Hermione has delivered a healthy daughter and offers to bring the baby before Leontes.
- Scene 5
Leontes rejects the baby, but the lords persuade him to order abandonment rather than burning.
- Scene 6
Cleomenes and Dion carry the sealed oracle and hope its message will help Hermione.
- Scene 7
Apollo’s oracle clears Hermione, but Leontes rejects its judgment until a servant announces Mamillius’s death.
- Scene 7
Hermione collapses, Paulina reports her death, and Leontes admits his wrongdoing and vows daily mourning.
- Scene 8
Antigonus abandons Perdita on the Bohemian coast and flees a bear; a shepherd finds the baby and gold.
- Scene 9
Time skips sixteen years, introduces Florizel and the grown Perdita, and leaves Leontes grieving.
- Scene 10
Polixenes refuses Camillo’s request to return home and proposes investigating Florizel’s absences in disguise.
- Scene 11
Autolycus pretends to be a robbery victim and picks Clown’s pocket while accepting his help.
- Scene 12
Polixenes reveals himself at the sheep-shearing feast, forbids Florizel’s match with Perdita, and threatens punishment.
- Scene 12
Camillo directs the lovers toward Sicilia, while Autolycus steers the Shepherd and Clown toward the prince’s ship.
- Scene 13
Leontes promises not to remarry without Paulina’s permission and welcomes Florizel and Perdita.
- Scene 13
News of Polixenes’s pursuit exposes the lovers’ flight, but Leontes agrees to speak for them.
- Scene 14
Gentlemen report that objects and testimony identify Perdita as the king’s daughter, bringing a reunion mixed with grief.
- Scene 15
Paulina presents Hermione as a statue, then calls her down alive to reunite with Leontes and Perdita.
- Scene 15
Hermione explains that hope for her daughter kept her alive, while Leontes asks forgiveness.
Hidden until you have read that far.
- SiciliaA kingdom praised for generous hospitality, whose king plans to visit Bohemia.First seen in scene 1
- BohemiaIts king shares a childhood friendship with Sicilia’s king.First seen in scene 1
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