The Winter's Tale

The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, first published in the First Folio in 1623. Although it was listed as a comedy when it first appeared, some modern editors have relabeled the play a romance. Some critics, among them W. W. Lawrence (Lawrence, 9–13), consider it to be one of Shakespeare's “problem plays”, because the first three acts are filled with intense psychological drama, while the last two acts are comedic and supply a happy ending.