LEONTES
I am a feather for each wind that blows.
Shall I live on, to see this bastard kneel,
And call me father? Better burn it now,
Than curse it then. But be it; let it live.
It shall not neither. [To ANTIGONUS.] You sir, come you hither;
You that have been so tenderly officious
With Lady Margery, your midwife there,
To save this bastard's life–for 'tis a bastard,
So sure as this beard's gray–what will you adventure
To save this brat's life?
ANITIGONUS
Any thing, my lord,
That my ability may undergo, . . .

The quote "I am a feather for each wind that blows" signifies King Leontes' fragile state of mind as he succumbs to his jealousy and paranoia. Much like a feather at the mercy of ever-changing breezes, Leontes wavers between cruelty and clemency. This illustrates his loss of rationality and control over his decisions, swayed by the tempestuous emotions that have overtaken him. He contemplates the fate of his newborn daughter, torn between the impulse to destroy and the inclination to let her live. His erratic declarations highlight the internal conflict that plagues him, underscoring his tragic flaw—his inability to trust and his readiness to believe the worst without evidence. This leads to a domino effect of disaster for his family and kingdom, making his vacillation not just a personal crisis but a pivotal moment in the narrative.