A Winters tale
Introduction to Shakespeare
Final Paper Assignment
Defiance in The Winters Tale
From Shakespeare’s work The Winters Tale, the audience is given a vivid representation of gender politics. Like most of Shakespeare’s plays, the character development of the women is particularly profound, specifically Hermione and Paulina. These characters are arguably the most discerning characters Shakespeare has every created, and when they are faced with such tremendous adversity; they exemplify a virtuous and genuine defiance, of the tyranny of Leontes. The consequences that result from their patience, ultimately provides a certain level of spiritual atonement for themselves, and later for Leontes. The actions of their defiance cannot be fully understood until the end of act five when Leontes himself undergoes a personal catharsis, and Hermione is resurrected. Hermione is particularly virtuous with her embodiment of candor, and Paulina is equally as profound with her sense of directness and the wisdom that she provides Leontes.
At the beginning of the play Hermione is wrongly accused of infidelity by her husband Leontes. Paulina acts in the defense of Hermione and fiercely tries to protect her Queen. The vindication of Hermione comes directly from Leontes, and she is only found to be innocent after her alleged death. Leontes also learns of his son Mamillius’s death, which is presumed to be caused by grief, after his father wrongly imprisoned his mother. Leontes is struck with unbearable remorse and he chooses to confide himself to Paulina for spiritual guidance. Paulina serves as the ancillary voice of reason towards Leontes during his apprehensive jealousy. She continues her spiritual condemnation for the next sixteen years. “Our shame perpetual. Once a day I’ll visit the chapel where they lie, and tears shed there shall be my recreation. So long as nature will bear up with this exercise, so long I daily vow to use it. Come, and lead me to these
Final Paper Assignment
Defiance in The Winters Tale
From Shakespeare’s work The Winters Tale, the audience is given a vivid representation of gender politics. Like most of Shakespeare’s plays, the character development of the women is particularly profound, specifically Hermione and Paulina. These characters are arguably the most discerning characters Shakespeare has every created, and when they are faced with such tremendous adversity; they exemplify a virtuous and genuine defiance, of the tyranny of Leontes. The consequences that result from their patience, ultimately provides a certain level of spiritual atonement for themselves, and later for Leontes. The actions of their defiance cannot be fully understood until the end of act five when Leontes himself undergoes a personal catharsis, and Hermione is resurrected. Hermione is particularly virtuous with her embodiment of candor, and Paulina is equally as profound with her sense of directness and the wisdom that she provides Leontes.
At the beginning of the play Hermione is wrongly accused of infidelity by her husband Leontes. Paulina acts in the defense of Hermione and fiercely tries to protect her Queen. The vindication of Hermione comes directly from Leontes, and she is only found to be innocent after her alleged death. Leontes also learns of his son Mamillius’s death, which is presumed to be caused by grief, after his father wrongly imprisoned his mother. Leontes is struck with unbearable remorse and he chooses to confide himself to Paulina for spiritual guidance. Paulina serves as the ancillary voice of reason towards Leontes during his apprehensive jealousy. She continues her spiritual condemnation for the next sixteen years. “Our shame perpetual. Once a day I’ll visit the chapel where they lie, and tears shed there shall be my recreation. So long as nature will bear up with this exercise, so long I daily vow to use it. Come, and lead me to these