"We Need No More of Your Advice": Political Realism in The Winter's Tale

Abstract

When King Leontes laments to Paulina, at beginning of final act of The Winter's Tale, O, that ever I / Had squar'd me to thy counsel! (V.i.51-52),' he acknowledges primary cause of tragedy that has enveloped Sicilia. Consumed by his passion, like King Lear, Leontes mistakenly followed his forceful instigation in publicly accusing Queen Hermione of infidelity (II.i.163) instead of heeding moderate counsel of loyal courtiers who found his suspicions groundless. The results have been similarly catastrophic: deaths, presumed or real, of Hermione, Prince Mamillius (who was hope of entire kingdom), and infant princess that Leontes rejected as illegitimate. Additionally, Leontes' rashness has destroyed his friendship with Polixenes, along with alliance of their kingdoms, and caused horrible deaths of loyal Antigonus and shipload of mariners who fulfill royal command to abandon infant in wilderness. All this and countless hours devoted to grieving and penance-might have been avoided if Paulina, and Camillo and Antigonus, had been able to make Leontes listen. To make amends, Leontes resolves at start of Act V to follow Paulina's counsel in matter of remarriage-yet his judgment in doing so is also flawed. As Cleomenes objects, apparently speaking for entire court, in opposing remarriage Paulina fails to consider What dangers, by his highness' fail of issue, / May drop upon his kingdom (V.i.27-28). It has been sixteen years, after all: Leontes' responsibility to the state and the remembrance / Of his most sovereign name (lines 25-26) requires that he remarry. Since-in romance world of The Winter's Tale both Hermione