Perdita's Spring

The passage in Act IV scene 4 from lines 111-129 shows a shift in the play brought on by Perdita. The passage, which includes references to virginity, flowers, and the changing of the seasons, exemplifies the character of Perdita and what her presence entails. Whereas before we had a tale of winter, death, and snow, we now are shown a theme of spring, life and love, and new growth.

The change of seasons is one of the first notable comparisons made by Perdita. While “blasts of January would blow you through” alludes to the harsh winds and fortunes of the dead of winter, “the winds of March with beauty” are what now lightly runs through the flowers and ease of spring. This is a joyous transition, and is brought on by Perdita herself. Besides offering some of the first pleasant dialogue in the play and entering in as the virgin beauty to start anew the chaotic plot after 16 years, she is also compared to Prosrpina. A quick reading of the footnotes shows that the Proserpina that she references is responsible in Greek myth for bringing about the seasons. Perdita plays a similar role, pulling the story out of cold and darkness.

Of course, no close reading would be complete without some sexual imagery! Do not despair, we have plenty. If winter is a time of desolation and barrenness, spring is a time of life and fertility. Besides references to “virgin branches”, “maidenheads” and to “die unmarried”, there is a more complex comparison to flowers. The plants are a symbol for sex and fertility, springing up and bringing new life after pollination. There is a reference to pollination of primroses, and also the possibility of virgins to be beautiful but doomed if they do not have sex. Perdita brings some powerful flower imagery to the table while flirting with Florizel, hinting towards a new love to direct the play. Her entry is a new blooming, using spring imagery to bring about a new beginning from the death and destruction of the winter’s tale.