Abridged The Winter’s Tale/#1/Background/Act 1, Scene 1
The play opens in Sicilia. The play is based on a two-thousand plus year
old story; Sicilia, geographically, being a mystery. Leontes is its king; Hermione, his
queen. They have a son, Mamillius,
believed to be quite the talented young man. Camillo is a Sicilian courtier and
a close friend to the king. As the play
opens, Archidamus, a Bohemian courtier, and Camillo are on stage talking,
Archidamus, suggesting that Leontes should visit them in Bohemia “this coming
summer, wherein our hospitality shall shame us.” Leontes and Polixenes, Bohemia’s king, were
very close friends as young men. Camillo
says his king “justly owes him” a visit.
Camillo goes on to say “Sicilia cannot show himself too kind to
Bohemia.” The names of the kings and their countries are synonymous. Camillo says
the kings have “interchanged gifts, letters, loving embassies, and seemed to be
together though absent.” Archidamus
acknowledges their long-term friendship; going on to say “You have unspeakable
comfort of your young Prince Mamillius.
He is a gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came into my
note.” Camillo adds “He is a gallant
child; one that indeed makes old hearts fresh.”