In both Hamlet and A Winter's Tale, the parent(s), mostly the dad, spies on their son. I'll be interested to see if this theme keeps happening in more plays that we read. In Hamlet, things don't work out for them when they spy. I mean, Polonius is murdered, and so are Gertrude and Claudius.
Since Winter's Tale is a comedy, I don't see Polixenes dying, but I do see him having to dig himself out of a hole. Shakespeare is definitely telling parents to just be straightforward with your kids, and then you will have a better relationship (and not be accidentally killed...). It is interesting to note that in Hamlet, no one ever comes out of hiding willingly, but Polixenes and Camillo do in the 4th Act of Winter's Tale, so maybe since they were a little less deceiving, they don't have to die for their trouble.
at the very beginning of the act, "I have eyes under my service which look upon his removedness" VERY similar to Hamlet in that a father is worried about his son's aloofness, but doesn't ask as a concerned parent, instead sends spies to see what the matter is. maybe shakespeare had problems with his dad...
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