|
|
 |
 |
King Leontes of Sicily and old friend King Polixenes of Bohemia are
celebrating tonight after an astounding series of co-incidences and marvels
brought the Sicilian ruler's daughter, thought
dead, back to him. And long lost Perdita had a family
addition of her own - she's engaged to be married to Polixene's son
Florizel!
The young lovers had fled together, after Florizel's dad forbade their
marriage, believing Perdita to be a low class shepherd girl. But now he knows the
lowly lass is actually the heir to Leontes' thone he's more than happy to see the two hitched.
|
"Be stone no more; approach"
Paulina, commanding Hermione (above right) to revive. Act 5, Sc 3
|
The unlikely saga began sixteen years ago, when Leontes had a sudden mad attack of jealousy during a visit by Polixenes. Despite everyone's protests, he accused his queen, Hermione, of having an affair with Polixenes, forcing the Bohemian King to
flee.
Then, after his poor wife gave birth in a prison cell, he rejected his baby
daughter as a bastard. Cruelly, Leontes forced faithful servant Antigonus to
take the baby away and abandon her.
The shock of this, and the death of her son, was too much
for Hermoine, who collapsed while defending herself in court.
|
  Leontes
King of Sicilia, Leontes loved Hermione, but allowed jealousy to take him over. This destroyed his family and drove him to despair. He and Polixenes were childhood friends. |
 Polixenes
King of Bohemia, Polixenes was a loyal and fair man, but could be harsh.
When he thought his son was marrying beneath himself, he wasn't at all
sympathetic.
|
 Perdita
Leontes' only heir, this good and faithful girl was brought up by shepherds after being left on the coast of Bohemia as a baby. Her loveliness and good
character won over Polixenes easily.
|
 Hermione
Leontes' queen, Hermione was a good and faithful woman, steadfast and
intelligent, and was respected by everyone. Even when accused of adultery in open court, she managed to stay dignified.
|
|
|
As her old friend Paulina took away the body, messengers arrived from an Oracle, and confirmed the tragic queen's innocence. Sadly, it was too late.
But the return of Perdita - left on Bohemia's shore with letters proving her
identity, and raised by kindly shepherds, this sad tale is finally ended.
Even better was to come when Perdita insisted on seeing a statue of her
mother.
|
听 |
As the court gazed at the amazingly
life-like statue, it moved - and Hermione lived again. A miracle? Or had
Paulina secretly sheltered her all these years? We may never know.
"A sad tale鈥檚 best for winter: I have one
Of sprites and goblins."
Mamillius Act 2, Sc 1
"What鈥檚 gone, and what鈥檚 past help
Should be past grief." Paulina, Act 3, Sc 1
|
|
听听听听
Today's weather 听听听听
All about writing 听听听听
The 成人快手 is not responsible for the content of external sites.
|
|
|
Related Links
Best of Drama
|
Best of bbc.co.uk
|
|
| * The 成人快手 is not responsible for the content of external sites. |
|
