As Leontes makes his first appearance in Shakespeare's `The Winter's Tales', the reader is confronted by an aggressively insecure character. His conversation with the more relaxed Polixenes is illustrative of this. Polixenes, in his anxiety to leave, explains that he has overstayed his welcome;

`Besides, I have stay'd

To tire you royalty'

Polixenes' suggestion is clearly a polite one, a non-threatening exclamation of gratitude. However, in a representation of his competitive character, Leontes mis-comprehends this as a challenge;

`We are tougher, brother,

Tha you can put us to't'

The friendship that Camillo pointed out in Scene 1; `an affection which cannot choose but branch now', appears to have vanished in this confrontation. He identifies him and his people as `we', further increasing the competitive nature of this conversation. Polixenes timidly suggests; `No longer stay.' The tone of Leontes' reply does not expect any compromise; `One seve'night longer.'...