bears

[lucyjcole]

does anyone know who exited, pursued by a bear, in the winter's tale?

[incitatus]

Leonte's wife Hermione, I think.

[larabell]

Antigonus in Act III, scene III - after he sets the child Perdita down safely. The Shepherd later describes how the bear ripped Antigonus apart. I've never seen any conclusive explanation of why Shakespeare wrote this, but bear-baiting was a popular sport, probably with the some of the same people who went to Shakespeare's plays at the Globe.