In Act I, we as readers are introduced to Leontes’ volatile moods, and the way in which they drive the action in the play. At the beginning, Leontes’ passionate character first shows through his interaction with his childhood friend, Polixenes. Taking hospitality to the extreme, Leontes makes an oath just to keep his friend as his guest, claiming “I’ll no gainsaying,” (1.2.21) and even asking his wife to help make Polixenes stay. His determination and essentially controlling behavior in this essentially trivial/formal interaction foreshadows the intensity of his character.

Leontes’ mood proves it’s erratic throughout scene two, as he jumps from this display of practically begging Polixenes to stay at the beginning, to seeking to execute his assassination by the end. The change is triggered by the trivial “paddling palms and pinching fingers” (1.2.109) that occurs between his wife and Polixenes. Without any further investigation, questioning, or evidence, Leontes decides that the two must be engaged in a romantic affair behind his back, and experiences a melodramatic “tremor cordis” (1.2.110) as a result of his ‘realization’.

Taking it to an even further level, he extends his panic and paranoia outside of himself and expresses it to his servant, Camillo. Calling his wife a “a hobby-horse,” (1.2.276) among many other vicious names and insults, Leontes’ irrationality reaches it’s peak when he asks Camillo to poison Polixenes. Leontes’ behavior is confirmed as insane when Camillo’s refuses to entertain Leontes’ madness. In the end, he must pretend to go along with it in order to keep himself, Hermione and Polixenes safe from Leontes– further speaking the intensity of his behavior and impulsive moods.