The Character of Leontes in The Winter's Tale

As Leontes makes his first appearance in Shakespeare's `The Winter's Tales', the reader is confronted by an aggressively insecure character. His conversation with the more relaxed Polixenes is illustrative of this. Polixenes, in his anxiety to leave, explains that he has overstayed his welcome;

`Besides, I have stay'd

To tire you royalty'

Polixenes' suggestion is clearly a polite one, a non-threatening exclamation of gratitude. However, in a representation of his competitive character, Leontes mis-comprehends this as a challenge;

`We are tougher, brother,

Tha you can put us to't'

The friendship that Camillo pointed out in Scene 1; `an affection which cannot choose but branch now', appears to have vanished in this confrontation. He identifies him and his people as `we', further increasing the competitive nature of this conversation. Polixenes timidly suggests; `No longer stay.' The tone of Leontes' reply does not expect any compromise; `One seve'night longer.' Despite this, Leontes remains insecure of his own authority over Polixenes. In fact, his behaviour during this particular episode shows Leontes as being a rather tactless figure. This is pointed out by his own wife, Hermione, who suggests that she could have done better in persuading him to stay;

`You, sir, charge him too coldly'

Hermione, however, also feels obliged to reassure her husband; `I love thee not a jar o' th' clock behind'. This reflects the rather tense nature of their marriage, and Leontes' behaviour during it. Hermione is the subject of Leontes' tactless behaviour later on in that scene;

`Hermione, my dearest, thou never spok'st to better purpose.'

Hermione responds, condemning his insult, telling him of the lack of praise sh...

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...sinister individual - a man taking pleasure in his own jealousy. Camillo responds loyally; `I could do this...' The sly nature of Leontes is accentuated in his final words before he leaves the scene;

`I will seem friendly, as thou hast advis'd me.'

This leaves the viewer with an unnerving tone to the rest of the act, a vision of the schemings of Leontes, as Camillo and Polixenes conclude the scene.

Throughout the first act, the viewer's opinion of Leontes has been corrupted. We have seen the demise of Leontes' sanity, a rise in a sinister attitude, culminating in his plot to kill Polixenes. The act has revealed an intensely paranoid figure, a poignantly insecure character, a man taking pleasure in his envy of Polixenes' relationship with his wife.

Bibliography:

Shakespeare's Language, Russel

Shakespeare's Life, Bussey

English Review, June 2002