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Since their more mature dignities and royal necessities made separation of their society, their encounters, though not personal, hath been royally attorneyed with royal interchange of gifts, letters, loving embassies, that they have seemed to be together though absent, shook hands as over a vast, and embraced as it were from the ends of opposed winds. (1.1.26–33)
In the play’s opening scene, Camillo and Archidamus discuss how the Bohemian king’s visit to Sicilia has gone. As part of this discussion, Camillo comments on how the relationship between the kings of these to realms has grown more distant over time. Despite having been close friends in their childhood, the “more mature dignities and royal necessities” that have taken over their lives since they each became king have dramatically changed things. Perhaps most significantly, they have been forced to communicate not directly, but rather through intermediaries who conduct “royal interchange” on their behalf. His closing reference to the “vast” distance that separates them foreshadows the failures of perception and communication that will soon lead Leontes to accuse Polixenes of betrayal.
Sir,
You speak a language that I understand not.
My life stands in the level of your dreams,
Which I’ll lay down. (3.2.84–87)
Hermione utters these lines to Leontes as she attempts to defend herself in court against his charge of adultery. At this moment, she is expressing bafflement at his most recent charge, which is that she knew Camillo was working with Polixenes to plot his overthrow, or perhaps his assassination. Of course, this charge is baseless and completely absurd—so absurd, in fact, that Hermione can barely respond to it. Her husband’s lunacy has ascended to such heights that he speaks as if his dreams had become real. Effectively, they no longer speak the same language, and they no longer refer to the same reality. The consequences of this communication breakdown prove fatal.
FLORIZELL I yield all this;
But for some other reasons, my grave sir,
Which ’tis not fit you know, I not acquaint
My father of this business.
POLIXENES Let him know ’t.
FLORIZELL He shall not. (4.4.478–83)
This exchange between the Bohemian king and his son takes place while both men are in disguise. Yet whereas Polixenes knows that he’s speaking to his son, Florizell doesn’t yet realize that the man addressing him is his father. What results is a moment of miscommunication that quickly gets out of hand. Essentially, Polixenes is mad that Florizell would marry a woman without telling him. When he insists on the general importance of the father’s presence at a marriage ceremony, Florizell is quick to agree in principle. Yet the prince also claims to have personal reasons why he doesn’t let his own father know. This final refusal prompts Polixenes to abandon his disguise and begin issuing violent threats.
