The Journey or the Destination?

Well what a journey that was riding down to Cedar City! We were introduced to a bell ringer (I Am a Bellringer) had a duck make its way into our conversations and played Star Wars when the road FORCED us to. Eventful journey? I think 'twas.
The destination was different then what I originally saw; nonetheless, it was not disappointing. Seeing a play gave me a whole new perspective on it and on all of Shakespeare's writings. I began to think, Shakespeare is not writing to get across things on a smaller scale because he knows his audience is seeing the bigger picture.
One thing Lauren pointed out was how the name "Winter's Tale" denotes a sad story. When I asked if she felt it ends happy (with the reuniting of families), I realized something: The journey is as valuable as the destination! Yes, the story ends well- it's great! On the scoreboard there are two new marriages, one old restored and many friendships mended. SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE STORY?! Why is it called Winter's Tale and not Spring's Tale?!
I believe, and it is in Shakespeare's mind, that the audience will see the repentant and happy ending, but also note the sixteen years lost due to folly and rash thinking. Those sixteen years, where the kingdom was in disharmony and (zooming in), where Leontes' family could have lived harmoniously, are now gone. The blessings they could have had and the progression they could have achieved slipped through the cracks of time.
He is portraying, much like in the Iliad and Odyssey by Homer, that the journey is just as important as the destination. The moral is one of my favorite. It is a tale because of it's happy ending, but Winter's Tale because the road was rough. The journey and the destination are equally important. May we not overlook one or the other.



Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winter%27s_Tale
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_did_Homer_write_the_Iliad_and_the_Odyssey

Camillo's True Loyalty

There is so much going on in this play I love it! I am really beginning to like Camillo. He is a key player who makes it happen. Two things I noticed...
1st When he leaves to go poison Polixenes, his conscious overcomes him and he runs because he decides to not murder. Just there, he was loyal to Polixenes, or was he?
2nd He kind of is sneaky when he goes back to Sicilia, but it's all for a good reason. Of course when they return, all of the good things happen with regards to marriages and such. Here, in "tricking" Florizel and then Polixenes, who is he loyal to? Many may say he just chasing after his own desires, but I would submit that Camillo, the voice of reason, is being loyal to that which is right. From the beginning he follows his heart.
(I looked up many different sources on the internet that helped form my opinion, but could not find any worth citing.)

Honesty

I found a common thread in Autolycus lines, see if you can pick it out.

"if I thought it were a piece of
honesty to acquaint the king withal, I would not
do't:"

"Though I am not naturally honest, I am so
sometimes by chance:"

"A lie; you are rough and hairy. Let me have no
lying"

"If I had a mind to be honest, I see Fortune would
not suffer me:"

Again there is this theme throughout Hamlet and Winter's Tale: Honesty. Shakespeare understands how important it is to be honest. This applies to us today of course, and I would point out that Elder Neil L. Anderson just came and spoke to us about honesty. He said if we would live it, it would enhance our time here at BYU. He was not saying we are dishonest, but he suggested we ponder on honesty and it's necessity in our lives.