The Winter's Tale
With Introduction, and Notes Explanatory and Critical for Use in Schools and Families (Classic Reprint)

Critics consider <i>The Winter's Tale</i> one of Shakespeare's "problem plays" because it transcends genres, takes place in two parts 16 years apart, and begins as a tragedy and ends a comedy. But these are not problems as much as they are innovations. Modern readers welcome time jumps and tragicomedies, so most will love <i>The Winter's Tale</i>.<br><br>Written near the end of The Bard's career, <i>The Winter's Tale</i> begins with Leontes, King of Sicily. Thematically, Leontes borrows heavily from <i>Othello</i>, the subject of another tale of jealousy and its after-effects. In a cold winter, Leontes becomes convinced of his wife's infidelity, and the paranoia eats away at him until he takes drastic actions. What happens to Leontes and his family is the very definition of tragedy.<br><br>Unlike Shakespeare's other tragedies, however, the play doesn't end there. Father Time literally appears on stage to announce that part two will begin 16 years later, during a lovely summer in Bohemia. What has happened to Leontes' family and friends Did Leontes suffer for his rage Is redemption even possible These are the questions answered by the play's second half, which is light and comedic <br>with touches that are akin to <i>Twelfth Night</i> or <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream</i>. The play's final act features an exciting and surprising conclusion.<br><br>Like many Shakespeare plays, <i>The Winter's Tale</i> is taken from secondary sources, namely the novel <i>Pandosto, The Triumph of Time</i>, and Book 10 of Ovid's <i>Metamorphoses</i>. The introductory essay by F.W. Moorman discusses the sources, controversies and critical reception of the play. The critical notes after the play shed light on individual passages and give tips for those who are actually staging the play. If you enjoy theater and are in the mood for a story that will tug on every human emotion, this edition of <i>The Winter's Tale</i> is sure to please.<br><br>About the Publisher<br><br>Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com<br><br>This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.