analysis of the theme of punishment that occurs throughout Shakespeare's play, The Winter's Tale.

2. Introduction
 Onlypossiblewaytotrulymakethetyrantseethelightand
repent
 AppearsintheformofreminderstoLeontesforhis
wrongdoingsandcrimes,aswellashistyranny-The result of
not trusting anyone and letting his own suspicions grow.
 Itseffectisfeltthroughouttheplay.
 IscarriedoutprimarilybyNature.[Eg;TheHeavens,Gods,
etc..]alsopersonallycarriedoutbyothercharacters-Paulina

3. Punishment to characters
-Leontes
 The tyrant is determined to punish Hermione for
‘adultery’ at all cost.
 He refuses to believe in the words of the Oracle and
orders for the trial to go on
 He receives news of his son’s death which is followed
by his Queen fainting and dying soon afterwards.
 THIS is the Heavens’ way of punishing him – his
irrational tyranny and disbelief in the prophecy

4. Punishment to characters
 Leontes’ initial intention backfires on him.
 He is the one to receive punishment with the death
of his only family and the loss of his infant child.
 His grief of this loss is his punishment for the next 16
years.
 Paulina serves to remind him of his past evil deeds
everyday. – her way of punishing the king. (i.e)

5. Quote from
Paulina.
Paulina reminds
Leontes of Hermione. It
reminds him of what he
has done to her and
what his jealousy has
caused.
I should so.
Were I the ghost that walked,
I’d bid you mark
Her eye and tell me for what dull
part in’t
You chose her; then I’d shriek, that
even your ears
Should rift to hear me, and the
words that followed
Should be ‘Remember mine’.

6. Punishment to characters
-Antigonus and ship’s crew.
 Sent to abandon baby Perdita in Bohemia by
Leontes.
 Received forewarnings from Nature for the tragedy
that is to come (i.e)
 Nature sends the bear as a henchman to punish
Antigonus.
 Ship sinks due to the weather and rough sea.
 Sound of thunder is used as a dramatic technique in
the play to show the anger of nature.

7. Quote from
Mariner
The fact that the skies
look grim emphasizes
that nature is trying to
show its anger.

Ay, my lord, and fear
We have landed in ill time. The
skies look grimly
And threaten present blusters. In
my conscience,
The heavens with that we have in
hand are angry
And frown upon’s.

8. While it is true that these characters are justly
punished for their actions, not all characters are
seen punished for wrongdoings.
Is this character a special case or is he just plain
lucky?

9. Autolycus – A Strange Case
 A thief who makes a living by cheating off of others.
 He uses his wits, skills and believable disguises for
his own personal benefit – successfully fools his
victims.
 Autolycus may sound evil and deserves any means of
punishments BUT he is seen in good light and
receives no form of punishment.

10. Autolycus – A Strange Case
WHY?
 His carefree, lively and mischievous personality. –
seen as harmless. Poses no real threat to anyone.
 He was ‘littered under Mercury’ – it is in his nature
to steal. He merely welcomes this trait.
 Hence, Nature does not punish him, in fact, he is
given rewards. (i.e)
 Also, his offence is not as big and harmful as Leontes’
nor Antigonus’ whose deeds seem to upset the
balance of Nature.

11. Clown falls for
Autolycus’ disguise and
tells his father to hand
over their gold to
Autolycus.
Autolycus feels that
Lady Fortune is smiling
upon him.
Clown [Aside to Shepherd] He seems to be of
great authority. Close with him, give
him gold; and though authority be a stubborn
bear, yet he oft le by nose with gold. Show the
inside if your purse to the outside of his hand,
and no more ado. Remember – ‘stoned’ and
‘flayed alive’
Shepherd An’t please you, sir, to undertake the
business for us, here is that gold that I have.
I’ll make it as much more, and leave this
young man in pawn till I bring it you
(...)
Autolycus If I had a mind to be honest, I see
fortune would not suffer me: she drops
booties in my mouth. 

12. D O N E B Y :
E R I K A
R E G E N E
H A J A H
END OF PRESENTATION