The Winter’s Tale · Chapter
Scene III explained
Antigonus abandons the infant Perdita on the Bohemian coast, following the instructions from Hermione's ghost.
What happens
Antigonus abandons the infant Perdita on the Bohemian coast, following the instructions from Hermione's ghost. He is then pursued and killed by a bear. A Shepherd and his son, the Clown, discover the baby and the gold left with her, deciding to keep both.
Themes in this chapter
Loss and Renewal
The chapter juxtaposes the loss of Antigonus and the shipwreck with the renewal found in the Shepherd discovering Perdita and the gold.
Faith and Oracles
Antigonus's belief in Hermione's ghost and his superstitious obedience to the dream reflect the theme of faith in supernatural guidance.
Characters to notice
- Antigonus
Antigonus carries out his oath to abandon Perdita, recounts Hermione's ghostly visitation, and is chased and killed by a bear.
- Perdita
The infant Perdita is left alone on the Bohemian coast, named by her mother's ghost, and discovered by the Shepherd.
- Shepherd
The Shepherd finds Perdita and the gold, deciding to take her in and keep the treasure secret.
- Clown
The Clown witnesses the shipwreck and Antigonus's death, then helps his father discover the baby and gold.
- Hermione
Hermione's ghost appears to Antigonus in a dream, instructing him to name the child Perdita and foretelling that he will never see his wife again.
Key passages
“Come, poor babe: I have heard, but not believed, the spirits o' the dead May walk again: if such thing be, thy mother Appear'd to me last night”
Antigonus addresses the baby, saying he never believed in ghosts until Hermione's spirit visited him in a dream.
Antigonus recounts his supernatural encounter with Hermione's ghost.
“I never saw The heavens so dim by day. A savage clamour! Well may I get aboard! This is the chase: I am gone for ever.”
Antigonus observes the darkening sky and hears a wild noise, realizing he is being chased and will never return.
Antigonus's final words before being pursued by the bear.
“Thou mettest with things dying, I with things newborn. Here's a sight for thee; look thee, a bearing-cloth for a squire's child!”
The Shepherd tells his son that he encountered death (the bear and shipwreck) while the Shepherd found new life (the baby).
The Shepherd contrasts the Clown's grim news with his own discovery of Perdita.