A Winter's Tale

The jealous king Leontes falsely accuses his wife, Hermione of infidelity, with his best friend, and she dies. Leontes exiles his newborn daughter Perdita, who is raised by shepherds for sixteen years and falls in love with the son of Leontes’ friend. When Perdita returns home, a statue of Hermione “comes to life”, and everyone is reconciled. Some critics consider it one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays” because the first three acts are filled with intense psychological drama, while the last two are comic and supply a happy ending.