Shakespeare presents the effects of Leontes' behaviour on Camillo and Polixenes through the use of dialogue, humour, imagery and elliptical language. Leontes' behaviour intrigues many people who know the story of 'The Winter's Tale'. Behaviour such as that of Leontes can come from an experience of loss as a child. According to Henry James "the great source of terror in infancy is solitude". As a child Leontes and Polixenes were separated. Camillo speaks of this in 1.1 24. As children they had a very strong friendship. This is reiterated by Polixenes when Hermione questions him on it. (1.2 60). Behind Leontes' angry adult features are hidden a boy made desperate by the pain of loosing his friend at childhood. Long after the events of their separation the terror of solitude hits him. According to a book by John Bowleby there are three psychological characteristics of loss. 1) The anxiety of loosing, 2) the psychological defences when pain is too much and 3) the mourning which is experienced in the case of actual loss i.e. when Mamillius dies. During 1.2 419-460 Leontes is in stage two, his anger is strong and he doesn't understand where it's coming from. He takes it out on Hermione and Polixenes and also puts Camillo in a difficult situation. The reason Leontes did not feel like this before is because nothing triggered the fear. He thought Hermione was cheating on him with Polixenes, the childhood fear of solitude was brought up and the adult fear of being made a cuckold made him act irrationally.
             The effects of Leontes' behaviour are portrayed by Shakespeare through the whole story. Because of Leontes' irrational behaviour Polixenes is deprived of two of his good friends and watching their children grow up together. Camillo is put in a difficult situation which eventually forces him to flee the country. Paulina is made a widow and Perdita is deprived of her natural parents...