The Winter's Tale: Character Profiles

The Winter’s Tale: Character Profiles

• Leontes: As the King of Sicilia, Leontes falsely accuses his wife, Hermione, of adultery resulting in severe consequences for the kingdom.
• Hermione: Hermione, Queen of Sicilia, is falsely accused of adultery and displays great dignity and grace throughout her ordeal.
• Camillo: A nobleman of Sicilia, Camillo plays a key role in the plot - his efforts to moderate Leontes’ irrational jealousy indirectly cause the action of the play.
• Paulina: Paulina, wife to Antigonus and a staunch defender of Hermione, serves as a voice of reason in the play.
• Antigonus: A nobleman of Sicilia, Antigonus is loyal to Leontes despite being ordered to abandon Hermione’s baby.
• Dion & Cleomenes: Two noblemen of Sicilia, Dion and Cleomenes provide a moral counterpoint to Leontes’ jealousy, standing by Hermione and supporting Paulina.
• Mamillius: Leontes and Hermione’s son whose death represents the tragic consequences of jealousy and pride.
• Emilia: Emilia, Paulina’s maid, provides crucial testimony about Hermione’s demeanour during her pregnancy.
• Polixenes: As the King of Bohemia and Leontes’ childhood friend, Polixenes is wrongly accused of adultery with Hermione.
• Florizel: Florizel, son of Polixenes and lover of Perdita, exemplifies romantic ideals and loyalty.
• Perdita: Daughter of Leontes and Hermione, but raised by a shepherd, Perdita represents innocence and purity.
• Shepherd: The Shepherd, who discovers and raises Perdita, represents the common man, with his virtues and flaws.
• Clown: The cheerful and simple son of the Shepherd, who helps Perdita to return to her Royal status.
• Autolycus: A former servant of Florizel turned rogue, Autolycus is the play’s comic relief character who also plays a key role in reuniting the scattered family.
• Minor Characters: A variety of other characters populate the play, including courtiers, servants, and townsfolk, adding to its exploration of societal hierarchies and moral dilemmas.