Act
1
Archidamus and Cleomenes,a lord from
Bohemia and the other from Sicilia,respectively begin having a conversation
about the two Kings. They expanded upon the great friendship the Kings have and
compared the two Kingdoms. They also mention the visit of Polixenes to Sicilia.
Leontes enters to see Hermione,Mamillius
and Polixenes who was getting ready to leave. Leontes tried to persuade Polixenes
to stay but he refused. However,after the words spoken to him by Hermione he
decides to stay.
Leontes begins to get jealous when
observing his wife and his friend. He
suddenly suspects them to be lovers and begins to look at his son,Mamillius to
compare their features. Since their features are similar he confirms that he is
his son. On the other hand he still suspects that Polixenes slept with his wife
and consequently asked Camillo to poison him.
Camillo expressly agreed but his conscience
forbids him to do it. He then told Polixenes about what happened after being
persuaded to talk. Polixenes then accepts him as his servant and they flee to
Bohemia.
Act2
Mamillius begins to tell his mother a
story. Leontes suddenly storms in in range because he recently found out about Polixenes
fleeing to Bohemia and when putting his clues together he assumed that Camillo
was his accomplice all along. With that stirring up his anger he began to
accuse Hermione of being a ‘bed swerver.’ Hermione quickly rebuts by confessing
her innocence. Leontes refused to believe her and consequently sent her to
prison. He was confronted by Antigonus who also defended Hermione and tried to
persuade him into recognizing her innocence. Leontes renounced his claims but
decided to seek council from an oracle in Delphi.
Paulina went to
visit Hermione in prison but was not allowed to speak to her because of
instructions given to the gaoler. Paulina then asked to see Emilia who then
informed her of the birth of Hermiones daughter. Paulina then convinced the gaoler
that it was ok for her to take the child.
Paulina goes to
the palace to take the baby to the king. Leontes becomes furious when Paulina
got her way in. he begins to accuse Antigonus of not being able to control his
wife and she agrues with him about his false accusations against Hermione.
Paulina rests the baby down and leaves.
Act 3
Act 3 began with
Cleomenes and Dion,the two men who went to see the oracle. They engage in a
dialogue where the topics of the conversation were the beauty or the religious atmosphere
and temples in Delphi and the prophecy by the oracle which they hoped would be
in Hermione’s favour.
The trial begins
and Hermione is brought from prison. The indictment is read and in it contains
the accusations made by Leontes. It accused Hermione of being an adulteress, conspiring
with Polixenes and Camillo to ensure a clean escape. Hermione states the reason
for her innocence which was basically a testimony of the life she lived.
The message from
the oracle is brought and it reads that Hermione and Polixenes are innocent
while Camillo was rightfully accused. It also stated that Leontes was a jealous
tyrant who would live without an heir if his daughter is not found.
Suddenly after,a
servant runs in and informs every one of Mamillius’ death. This caused Hermione
to faint and she was immediately carried away only later to be pronounced dead
by Paulina when she ran back into the room. Leontes recognizing what he had
done swears to visit their grave once a day and repent.
No comments:
Post a Comment