The Winter's Tale

'Kings have all the power,but their subjects are often wiser'.

Discuss the theme with close reference to the play

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King Leontes is a paranoid guy. Afraid of being the dreaded "cuckold" (guy whose wife cheats on him) he imprisons his wife and unborn child. He also sends his loyal retainer, Camillo, to poison Polixenes (the man he suspects of cheating with his wife). The evidence of infidelity is even flimsier than what makes Othello go bonkers in that play. Camillo knows his master is "off his rocker". Actually, pretty much everyone under Leontes feels that he needs to take a "chill pill". Like your statement, kings have all the power even though their subjects are often wiser.