# Scene I explained — The Winter’s Tale

> Chapter companion for The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Leontes publicly accuses Hermione of adultery with Polixenes and orders her imprisonment, despite her protests of innocence and the pleas of his lords. He sends messengers to the Oracle of Delphi for confirmation, while Mamillius is taken from his mother.

## Themes in this chapter

### Jealousy and Paranoia

Leontes' unfounded jealousy drives the entire scene, as he sees betrayal in innocent interactions and rejects all counsel.

### Faith and Oracles

Leontes sends to Apollo's oracle for confirmation, showing a reliance on divine judgment even as he acts on his own paranoid convictions.

### Social Class and Identity

Leontes invokes his royal prerogative to silence opposition, and Hermione's status as queen is both her protection and the cause of her public humiliation.

## Character check-ins

### Leontes

Consumed by jealousy, he publicly accuses Hermione of adultery and treason, orders her to prison, and sends to the Oracle for validation.

### Hermione

Maintains her innocence with dignity as Leontes accuses her; she is taken to prison, requesting her ladies attend her.

### Mamillius

Begins telling a sad winter tale to his mother but is abruptly taken away by Leontes.

### Antigonus

Vigorously defends Hermione's honor and warns Leontes against rash justice, even vowing to geld his own daughters if she is false.

### First Lord

Supports Hermione's innocence, offering to stake his life on her spotlessness, and urges Leontes to reconsider.

### Camillo

Mentioned as having fled with Polixenes, confirming Leontes' suspicions.

### Polixenes

Referenced as the alleged lover and traitor who has escaped with Camillo.

## Key lines

> A sad tale's best for winter: I have one Of sprites and goblins.

A melancholy story suits the winter season; I know one about ghosts and goblins.

_Mamillius chooses a dark tale, foreshadowing the tragic events to come._

> There may be in the cup A spider steep'd, and one may drink, depart, And yet partake no venom, for his knowledge Is not infected: but if one present The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known How he hath drunk, he cracks his gorge, his sides, With violent hefts. I have drunk, and seen the spider.

A person can unknowingly drink poison without harm, but once they learn the truth, they become violently ill. I have swallowed the poison and now see the spider.

_Leontes uses the metaphor of a spider in a cup to explain how his knowledge of the supposed betrayal has poisoned him._

> I am not prone to weeping, as our sex Commonly are; the want of which vain dew Perchance shall dry your pities: but I have That honourable grief lodged here which burns Worse than tears drown.

I don't cry easily like other women; my lack of tears might make you less sympathetic, but my grief is a burning fire far worse than any tears.

_Hermione's stoic dignity in the face of false accusation highlights her strength and the depth of her suffering._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/chapters