Synopsis

Leontes, the King of Sicilia, asks his dearest friend from childhood, Polixenes, the King of Bohemia, to extend his visit. Polixenes has not been home to his wife and young son for more than nine months but Leontes' wife, Hermione, finally convinces her husband's friend to stay a bit longer. But Leontes begins to think that Hermione has been unfaithful to him—with Polixenes. He orders one of his courtiers, Camilla, to poison Polixenes. Camilla says she'll do it, but when she sees Polixenes, she informs him of the plot. Polixenes escapes to Bohemia, and takes Camilla along.

When they escape, however, Leontes is absolutely convinced that they are guilty. He accuses Hermione of adultery, takes Mamillius, their son, from her and throws her in jail. He sends Cleomenes and Dion to Apollo's Oracle at Delphi, to see what the god Apollo says about his actions.

While Hermione is in jail her daughter is born, and Paulina, her friend, takes the baby girl to Leontes in the hope that the sight of his infant daughter will soften his heart. But Leontes' heart will not be softened. He orders Antigonus, Paulina's husband, to throw the baby into the fire, but Antigonus will not. Leontes relents but commands that the baby be abandoned in a desolate place.

In Hermione's trial, however, the Oracle at Delphi confirms that she is chaste, the child is not a bastard, Camillo is honest, and Leontes is a tyrant. The oracle also says that "The king shall live without an heir if that which is lost be not found." Leontes refuses to accept Apollo's truth. Immediately the news arrives that Mamillius, pining for his mother, has died. Hermione faints, Leontes realizes his terrible errors, and Paulina enters with the horrible news that Hermione, too, has died.

Antigonus arrives on the sea coast of Bohemia, having dreamt that Hermione is dead and has been found guilty. He leaves the baby, named Perdita, to her fate. Antigonus is killed by a bear and the baby is found by an Old Shepherd and his son, who decide to raise her as their own.

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With the help of Time, we skip forward 16 years. Perdita is now a young lady, in love with the young man Doricles. He is actually Florizel, son of Polixenes. At Perdita's sheepshearing festival, we meet a whole new cast of characters, including the rogue pickpocket Autolycus, who used to be one of Florizel's servants, but was whipped out of court and will do anything to get back into the comfort of the palace. Polixenes also appears in disguise at the festival, having discovered where his delinquent son is spending his time. Florizel asks the Old Shepherd to bless his betrothal to Perdita. Polixenes, whose permission has not been asked, removes his disguise and declares that the marriage will not happen and that the Old Shepherd will be executed for allowing a prince to court his daughter. In addition, Perdita's face will be "scratched with briers" and Florizel disinherited if he ever sees her again.

We return to Sicilia, where Leontes is still mourning the death of his family. Florizel and Perdita, having fled to Sicilia on the advice of Camilla, show up pretending to be on a diplomatic mission from Bohemia. It turns out that Polixenes knows of their escape and is hot on their heels, along with the Old Shepheld, his son, and Autolycus. Leontes vows to help the young couple and they go off to reunite with Polixenes and Camilla. We then hear from three lords that the lovely young shepherdess is actually the long-lost heir of Sicilia, and that Paulina has revealed an amazing statue of the long-dead Hermione. Everyone goes to see the statue, which, to true amazement, comes to life—and Hermione is reunited with her husband and daughter.

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