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Act 2, Scene 3
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Winter's Tale, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Loyalty, Fidelity, and Honesty
Friendship and Love
Youth, Age, and Time
Seriousness, Levity, and Humor
Evidence, Truth, Persuasion, and Belief
Justice and Natural Order
Summary
Analysis
Cleomenes and Dion, the two men sent to Delphos by Leontes, arrive at a sea-port in Sicilia. They both remark on how beautiful the island of Delphos was and “how ceremonious, solemn and unearthly” was the offering to Apollo they made there for a prophecy. They are carrying the written oracle “seal’d up” and both hope that when it is read it will be good for the queen Hermione.
Cleomenes and Dion must balance their loyalty and duty toward the king and queen. They are obeying Leontes in journeying to Delphos for the oracle, but still hold out hope for Hermione’s innocence. The “seal’d up” oracle they carry should be the ultimate piece of evidence in Hermione’s trial.
Themes
