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In conclusion, expanding the article allows us to delve deeper into the subject matter, provide more valuable information, and create a more engaging and thought-provoking piece for the class to read.

A beautiful queen named Hermione once lived. She had a tragic end, but through the power of the oracle of Delphi, she was resurrected. However, her jealous husband was still a problem. Meanwhile, there was someone who was trying to do good but unfortunately got eaten by a bear. In this story, royalty did not initially know that they were royalty. Love, on the other hand, wanted to conquer all the obstacles. Despite the many difficulties and challenges, in the end, there was a happy ending. Hermione and her true love were able to overcome all the odds and live happily ever after. The story shows that love can be stronger than jealousy and that good can sometimes prevail, even in the face of great tragedy.

\\n   “A sad tale’s best for winter.” \\n

And truly sad it is. This play, while perhaps more renowned for its rather unusual bear-exit, holds a story that is as cold as winter itself. Particularly in the first half, there are some painfully striking parallels with the present times: Leontes' jealous delusions and the cruel treatment Hermione endures bring to mind the #MeToo trials. Apollo's oracle proving Hermione's innocence? It's dismissed as fake news!

But where Leontes vividly demonstrates the destruction a powerful and mad man can wreak – perhaps they should indeed perform this play at the White House? – the female characters remain unyielding.
Despite her intense suffering, Hermione's rhetorical skills remain razor-sharp. Perdita isn't the least bit afraid to argue with a king for the sake of her love. And Paulina doesn't even flinch in the face of fire: she speaks the harsh truth exactly as it is.

\\n  \\n   

Leontes: \\"I’ll ha’thee burnt!\\"
Paulina: \\"I care not: it is an heretic that makes the fire, not she which burns in’t.\\"

\\n  \\n

Thankfully, love, forgiveness, and the humble sheep come to the fore in the second half of the play. Even the loyalty of the trickster Autolycus prevails over deceit, showing audiences that it's never too late to change and become a better person.
However, while I was deeply enamored with the characters and the profound themes of this play, the quality of the lines did not quite measure up to what I've read in Shakespeare's other masterpieces. When compared with "The Tempest" (written around the same time), the words in the latter seem to elevate the story to a whole new level.

That elevation is something I felt was lacking here. But perhaps The Winter's Tale will truly reveal its enchanting magic once I have the opportunity to see it performed on stage. Therefore, for now, I am inclined to give this tragi-comedic play 3.5 stars.

I don't think I've ever read "The Winter's Tale" at quite the right time. Somehow, my brain just seems to skip over the surface of it, arcing towards the end. The moment where Hermione-as-statue is revealed is truly a wonder. I just never seem to have much interest in the rest of the story. But oh, for that one moment! Imagine!

There's a poem by Edwin Morgan that I love more than I enjoy the play itself. It consists of forty-five lines of instructions to the boy-actor playing Hermione. To quote Ali Smith, it "gets, via the heart of all theatre, to the heart of the communal in all the arts, and to the heart of form, the heart of voice and silence and to the heart of a kind of life that will never actually stop". I'm going to quote the end here, as a placeholder until the day I come back with something of my own to say.

"The other hand
you now hold out -
o this will melt their hearts if nothing does -
to your husband who wronged you long ago
and hesitates in amazement to believe you are alive.
Finally he embraces you, and there's nothing
I can give you to say, boy,
but you most show that you have forgiven him.
Forgiveness, that's the thing. It's like a second life.
I know you can do it. - Right then, shall we try?"

This poem captures the essence and emotion of that crucial moment in the play, adding a layer of depth and beauty that makes it even more captivating. It makes me long to go back and explore the play again, perhaps with a new perspective and a greater appreciation for the whole story.

This is truly one of the more outlandish plotlines I've come across. It features such bizarre characters that they seem to exist in a world of their own, not quite fitting together in a seamless whole.

The plot, for me, doesn't quite manage to cobble together enough elements to create a truly engaging narrative. It's rather like a puzzle where the edges of the pieces only partially overlap, instead of locking into place perfectly. As a result, you end up with a rather strange visual, like Niagara Falls falling off backwards in a picture.

To be fair, there are some interesting statements made within the story, and a few scenes that offer moments of good fun. However, if you're considering delving into the works of Shakespeare, there are numerous other plays that I would recommend reading first. They offer a more complete and satisfying experience, with better-developed characters, tighter plots, and a deeper exploration of human nature and the human condition.

This particular play, while having its moments, just doesn't quite measure up to the high standards set by some of Shakespeare's other masterpieces.

What a truly wonderful play this is!

It's quite astonishing that I have never read or seen this particular one before.

There are an abundance of familiar elements present within it. We have men behaving in a jealous manner, which adds a touch of drama and intensity to the story.

Then there are the hidden identities, which keep the audience on the edge of their seats, wondering what will be revealed next.

And let's not forget the iconic stage command 'exit, pursued by a bear'! This single line has the power to create a sense of excitement and urgency like no other.

After experiencing this play, I find myself longing to read it again straight away. I can't wait to immerse myself in its captivating world once more and discover even more of its hidden gems.

The Winter's Tale is a truly remarkable work. It features the talented Eve Best, Danny Sapani, and Shaun Dooley in starring roles. This play is the magical product of the Bard's later years. It treads new dramatic ground, encompassing a wide range of elements. It includes tragedy, which tugs at the heartstrings and explores the darker side of human nature. The beautiful poetry adds a touch of elegance and lyrical charm. Folklore and magic realism bring a sense of the mysterious and the supernatural. Music enhances the atmosphere and adds another layer of depth. Comedy provides light-hearted moments and a break from the intensity. And who could forget the infamous stage direction "exit pursued by a bear", which adds a touch of excitement and the unexpected. All in all, The Winter's Tale is a captivating and multi-faceted work that showcases the genius of Shakespeare.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b078wtnn

Description: Eve Best, Danny Sapani and Shaun Dooley star in the magical product of the Bard's later years. Treading new dramatic ground The Winter's Tale embraces tragedy, poetry, folklore, magic realism, music, comedy and the infamous stage direction \\"exit pursued by a bear\\".

The King of Sicilia firmly believes that the King of Bohemia is having an affair with his wife. In a fit of jealousy and rage, he devises a diabolical plan to assassinate the King of Bohemia and even goes as far as to attempt to feed his own daughter to the wolves.

Sixteen years pass by in the blink of an eye, and the Prince of Bohemia finds himself hopelessly in love with the daughter who, miraculously, is not dead. She has grown up to be a shepherd.

However, the story unfolds through many long and rather uninteresting speeches, which makes it a so-called tragicomedy. The irony is that the tragedy lies in the fact that there is almost no comedy to be found within it.

The first part of this play seems like a subpar rendition of "Othello," while the second part resembles "The Importance of Being Earnest" but with all the humorous elements removed.

The only glimmer of potential comedy comes from the stage direction, "Exit, pursued by a bear." It's rather amusing until, of course, the poor guy actually gets devoured by the bear.

"The Winter's Tale" is indeed one of Shakespeare's remarkable final plays. It presents an outstanding ensemble of characters that enriches the entire canon. In this text, no single character overshadows the others, and many of them have multiple shining moments.

The play chronicles the jealousy-fueled downfall and ultimate redemption of King Leontes. Along the way, Shakespeare glorifies numerous ideas such as grace and forgiveness, the simplicity of rural life, the enduring bonds of friendship, the power of parenting, the passion of young love, the patience of mature love, and through the great character of Paulina, the lengths and advantages of loyalty. This text is a testament to Shakespeare at the peak of his creative powers. The episodic plot, which spans 16 years, enables the Bard to intricately weave in various themes that culminate in a pleasing and fulfilling conclusion.

Some may unjustly malign this text as not being among Shakespeare's best efforts, but I wholeheartedly disagree. Read it and then attempt to find a truly superior theatre company staging a performance. Enter the kingdoms of Sicilia and Bohemia, encounter Paulina, Autolycus, the Old Shepherd and his bumbling son, and many others. You will surely be glad you did!

Regarding the Pelican Shakespeare series, they are my personal favorite editions. The scholarly research within them is typically of the highest quality, and the editions themselves possess an aesthetic appeal as a unified whole. They look and feel like a play, which beautifully complements the text's contents. The Pelican series has recently been re-edited and incorporates the latest scholarship on Shakespeare and his era. They are well-priced and offer excellent value for money.

A theatrical text that is in itself tragedy, comedy, farce, and jest.

A scene that is divided between the warm and fragrant Sicily and the cold Bohemia, in which all the expedients of the ancient theater are present: dissimulation, apparent death, the abandonment of the orphan believed then dead, the reunion and the happy ending, lost love, morbid and crazy jealousy.

A jealousy that this time is the fruit of the protagonist's imagination, and not instilled as by Iago in Othello, and perhaps for this even more harmful: I do not believe what I see and I imagine something else, despite all the signs saying the opposite.

Shakespeare, as always, demonstrates a delicate knowledge and attention to the human soul and the emotions that move it.

His works are like mirrors that reflect the complexity and diversity of human nature, allowing us to explore our own feelings and experiences through the characters and their stories.

Whether it is the tragic downfall of a hero or the lighthearted humor of a comedy, Shakespeare's plays have the power to touch our hearts and minds, and to make us think about the world around us.

They are a testament to his genius and his ability to create works of art that have endured through the ages and continue to inspire and delight audiences today.

You might be forgiven for thinking that the most ‘fairy-tale’ like of Shakespeare’s plays is A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream. I mean, there are fairies and sprites and crazy things like that running about in it.

But in some ways, The Winter's Tale is even more like a fairy-tale. The play starts off a bit like Othello, where jealousy inspires acts of vengeance. Leontes, the king, becomes insanely jealous of his friend Polixenes, suspecting him of having an affair with his wife Hermione, even though the cause of the jealousy is baseless and the product of a mind fevered by suspicion.

The first half of the play ends pretty much where Othello ends. Leontes realizes he has destroyed his entire life by his willingness to believe the false accusations. He has killed his own son Mamillius out of rage and driven his wife Hermione to apparent death. And, of course, there is a shipwreck and a guy gets eaten by a bear.

The fairy-tale elements really come to the fore in part two of this play. The daughter of the king, Perdita, who was left to be exposed and die, is, in fact, brought up by a simple farmer. This is another of those stories where nature triumphs over nurture. The unknown princess catches the eye of a prince, Florizel, who falls helplessly in love with her. This causes some problems with the prince’s father, so prince and farmer’s daughter (really a princess – you know the score) elope.

The play ends with a curious retelling of Ovid’s Pygmalion story. Hermione, who was thought to be dead, is revealed to be a statue that comes back to life. This being a comedy, everything works out in the end. Although the king had clearly repented his jealousy and forgiveness is next to holiness and all that, I’m not sure I could have as willingly forgiven him as is done at the end of this play. He had still been the cause of the death of a son and had separated mother and daughter for decades. But this is theatre, not life, I guess.

This is a bizarre little play in many ways, but also a bit of a favourite. It does feel a little ‘bitsy’ at times and a bit like three quite different plays slammed together. And it is also a little hard to suspend disbelief right at the end. But there are parts of this play that are jaw-droppingly good, like the scenes between Perdita and Florizel and the final reveal of Hermione.

**Expanded Version**

In Act I, we are introduced to Leontes, the King of Sicily, who proclaims Polixenes, the King of Bohemia, as his bestest friend since childhood. Polixenes, however, after nine months, feels the need to return to his kingdom, son, and all. But Leontes pleads with him to stay, and even Queen Hermione agrees with her husband. Polixenes finally gives in and decides to stay a little longer. But suddenly, out of nowhere, Leontes accuses his wife of being a cheating whore and orders Camillo to kill Polixenes, believing they are having an affair behind his back. Camillo warns Polixenes, who quickly flees, leaving Queen Hermione in a precarious situation.

In Act II, Leontes goes into a full-blown rage, calling Hermione a dirty whore and insisting that the baby she is carrying is Polixenes' bastard. Hermione is shocked and the nobles are equally confused. Leontes then sends Hermione to jail, where she gives birth. He orders the baby to be burned, but Antigonus refuses. Instead, Leontes tells him to abandon the baby in the woods, which Antigonus does.

Act III sees Hermione still maintaining her innocence, but Leontes refuses to listen. However, Apollo's Oracle declares that Hermione and Polixenes are innocent and that Leontes is a tyrant. Leontes dismisses this as lies, but then his son dies. Realizing that Apollo is angry with him for accusing the oracle of lying, Leontes finally admits that his wife is innocent. But it is too late, as Hermione dies of grief. Antigonus then goes to abandon the baby, and as he does so, he is killed by a bear. Meanwhile, a shepherd discovers the baby and the gold that was left with it.

Sixteen years pass in Act IV, and we see that King Leontes' daughter, Perdita, has been raised by the shepherd and has grown up to be a pretty young woman. King Polixenes' son, Florizel, has grown up to be a romantic. The two fall in love and decide to get married. But when King Polixenes, in disguise, asks Florizel what his father would say about this, Florizel admits that he is not telling him. When King Polixenes reveals his true identity, he is furious and threatens to kill the shepherd, maul Perdita, and disinherit Florizel if he ever speaks of the shepherd's daughter again. Florizel and Perdita then decide to elope and run off to King Leontes' court.

In Act V, King Leontes mourns the loss of his wife, calling her the most perfect, angelic, saint-like woman ever. When Perdita and Florizel arrive, he initially thinks they are a sweet couple. But when he finds out that Florizel is eloping with a shepherdess, he goes to talk to Polixenes. Meanwhile, the Shepherd shows up and reveals Perdita's true heritage, and King Leontes and King Polixenes become friends again. Perdita and Florizel are then able to get married, and everyone is happy. They all go to see Queen Hermione's statue, which miraculously comes to life. Or maybe she was never dead and was just pretending to be a statue. Who knows? But either way, it's a happy ending for all.

Actual review: This play is one of the more crazy Shakespeare plays I've read. The random bear-chasing and devouring, as well as the maybe-statue-coming-to-life/maybe-Hermione-just-pretending-to-be-a-statue thing, make it quite unique. I didn't like King Leontes' sudden and unfounded accusations against his wife. At least Othello was tricked into believing his wife was cheating by Iago. King Leontes came up with his own crazy logic. I also have a general problem with Shakespeare's comedies. While they can be hilarious when performed, they rely too much on good comedic timing and acting, which doesn't always translate well when reading alone. However, I was intrigued by the character of Autolycus, the unrepentant rogue who was cut from the abridged version. He seems like a fun character that a good actor could bring to life.