# Scene II explained — The Winter’s Tale

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

## What happens

Polixenes and Camillo discuss Camillo's desire to return to Sicilia after fifteen years. Polixenes refuses, revealing his lingering grief over the loss of Hermione and her children. He then shares his concern about Prince Florizel's frequent visits to a shepherd's house, where a remarkable daughter lives. They decide to disguise themselves to investigate.

## Themes in this chapter

### Time and Transformation

Fifteen years have passed since the events in Sicilia, and the characters are now dealing with the consequences of time's passage, including grief and the growth of a new generation.

### Reconciliation and Family

Polixenes still mourns his brother's losses, and the potential for future reconciliation is hinted at through the next generation's actions.

## Character check-ins

### Polixenes

Polixenes refuses Camillo's request to leave, still mourning his brother's losses, and expresses concern over Florizel's secret visits to a shepherd's home.

### Camillo

Camillo wishes to return to Sicilia after fifteen years, having noted Florizel's recent withdrawal from court, and agrees to accompany Polixenes in disguise.

### Florizel

Mentioned as being often absent from court and frequently visiting a shepherd's house, where a remarkable daughter lives.

### Perdita

Referenced indirectly as the shepherd's daughter of most rare note, drawing Florizel's attention.

## Key lines

> I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate: ’tis a sickness denying thee any thing; a death to grant this.

Please, Camillo, stop asking; it pains me to refuse you, and it would kill me to let you go.

_Polixenes expresses his deep reluctance to let Camillo leave._

> Of that fatal country, Sicilia, prithee speak no more; whose very naming punishes me with the remembrance of that penitent, as thou callest him, and reconciled king, my brother; whose loss of his most precious queen and children are even now to be afresh lamented.

Please don't mention Sicilia; just hearing its name reminds me of my brother's grief over losing his queen and children, which still feels fresh.

_Polixenes reveals his ongoing sorrow over the tragedies in Sicilia._

> I have eyes under my service which look upon his removedness; from whom I have this intelligence, that he is seldom from the house of a most homely shepherd; a man, they say, that from very nothing, and beyond the imagination of his neighbours, is grown into an unspeakable estate.

I have spies watching Florizel's whereabouts, and they report he is often at the home of a humble shepherd who has risen from poverty to great wealth.

_Polixenes reveals he has been monitoring Florizel's secret activities._

## Links

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