In The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare, the failure, particularly regarding the shortcomings of any main character in the fulfilling one's obligations, is a constant theme throughout the narrative, and which underlies every major event in the plot and its ripple effects between the characters. Camillus is perhaps the best example of what consecutive failures can do to someone who would rather disobey a direct order than follow the ravings of a mad king, like Leontes, or flee from the graces of a needy king. like Polixenes. However, Camillus's "failure" as the subject of not one, but two courts, is not without its fair share of debate, having been systematically placed in difficult positions where he must decide between betraying his king and betraying his its own morality. . Compared to Camillo's action, or rather inaction, the illusion of choice is what leads to his 'failure', but perhaps it should not be his cross to bear. Subsequently, he is led along a path of no return until the end of the work, when everything is forgiven by Leontes and Camillo will have to do penance in church for the rest of his life. A larger question is posed by Camillus's failures: What encourages Camillus to disobey the commands of his kings? Is it a higher moral compass that points him in the direction of doing what is right? or is it out of personal interest and self-preservation that pushes him to betray their trust? Perhaps both are in play and working hand in hand as the events of the story unfold. In any case, there are different dimensions of failure and different ways of looking at it. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Having done his best to evade the consequences of his failures as a loyal cupbearer and advisor to both kings, Camillus embodies this larger ideal: failure as a subject. Although he survives the waves he raises in the betrayal of Leontes and Polixenes, Camillo is the fly caught in the tangled web of royal drama. When Camillo is first introduced in the play as Leontes' trusted advisor and cupbearer and an important high-ranking Sicilian lord, it is soon revealed that when push comes to shove, Camillo does not function well under pressure and falls short when push comes to shove. the time to do it. do what needs to be done. Leontes, suspecting that his wife Hermione is having an affair with his childhood friend Polixenes, king of Bohemia, confides his growing concerns of infidelity to Camillus. Shortly thereafter, Leontes orders Camillo to poison Polixenes, and while Camillo initially accepts his demands, he inevitably renounces his mission when approached by Polixenes: "Sir, I will tell you, for I am commissioned in honor, and by him whom I deem honorable ... I have been commissioned him (Leontes) to kill you. (1.2.402-403, 409) Here Camillus demonstrates his failure as a subject, but to what extent does his hesitation amount to failure? Arguably, Camillo's refusal to kill the king is a failure in terms of loyalty, but in the grand scheme of things he should be praised for preventing the murder of an innocent after Camillo's confession in plotting to poison Polixenes on behalf of Leontes, Polixenes offers him safe passage and freedom from Leontes' tyranny, which Camillo gladly accepts Fearing for his life and the repercussions that might follow suit once Leontes learns of what. is happening, Camillo and Polixene return to Bohemia and stay away from Leontes, who is getting closer and closer to the brink of madness.As Camillo narrowly escapes Leontes' clutches, he finds himself dealing with another court drama, at which point in the story Camillo's failure as a friend replaces his failure as a subject. Polixenes' heir, Prince Florizel, ends up falling in love with the humble shepherdess, Perdita, who is the unwitting daughter of Leontes after ordering her to be abandoned in the desert during his episode of paranoia. Polixenus strongly disapproves of their relationship, and then pleads with Camillo to stay as his advisor while all this ensues. But while Camillo assures him that he will stay as long as the king needs, deep in his heart he misses his family and his country and longs to return home. Subsequently another difficult choice presents itself, and once again Camillo chooses himself, but there is a different reason behind this decision, which is to be considered a real failure in contrast to his dissent when he was ordered to kill the king. When asked to continue his service to Polixenes, Camillus lies and fakes his promise of loyalty for fear of what might happen if he were to deny the king's request. When asked to poison Polixenes at the beginning of the play, Camillo ultimately could not do so out of moral and religious duty, however in this case Camillo betrays Polixenes fearing for his life. Planning his escape from Bohemia, Camillo aids and encourages Florizel and Perdita in their escape as a diversion for Polixenes so that when he escapes he will be under the radar: "I could invent his departure to serve my turn saving him from anger, give him love and honor , gain again the sight of dear Sicily and that unhappy king, my lord, whom I am so thirsty to see (4.4.514-518) Although in Camillo's plan some deception is involved, no one is hurt in the process, except Polixenes' feelings. Thanks to Camillo, the two lovebirds, Florizel and Perdita, can finally be together without anything coming between them and their mutually beneficial love, Camillo shows some compassion for the loving couple and finds a way in which they can all benefit from his plan. From this, the larger question of the motives behind Camillo and his decisions is central to understanding how the failure is his guiding hand and influence in the sequence of events in the story. Aside from Camillo's supposed failures as a subject and trusted friend, there is the question of what motivated him throughout history and in his choices that affected him on a personal level and forced him away from home for a significant period . period of time. Because Camillus was often forced to choose between his king and his own moral code, which so often clashed with those of Leontes and Polyxenus, he eventually learned to stop putting the ambitions of others before himself and to follow his own desires instead of serve himself. fulfill those of Leontes and/or Polisseno. On the one hand, Camillus is most likely motivated by his devout Christian understanding of morality and the difference between right and wrong. Questioned by Polixenes about Leontes' strange behavior, Camillo realized that he could not carry out the murder, especially when there is no evidence to support Leontes' suspicions of an affair. Failing to carry out the task assigned to him by Leontes, Camillo saves Polixenes from a terrible fate and soon after finds himself in Polixenes' service for fifteen years, after which he is accused by Polixenes of remaining his cupbearer. Accompanying Polixenes in disguise to see Florizel and Perdita, and after listening to the king forbid them from continuing their relationship, Camillo sympathizes with the couple and devises a plan to make them..