The roles and dramatic significance of the three main female characters in the play

The female protagonists in The Winter’s Tale are significant to the plot in various ways, but the most important is that, if they were not in the play none of the occurrences would have materialized. For instance, Hermione is a catalyst that ignites Leontes jealousy. Paulina is the author of a plot to conceal Hermione and Perdita is the one who fulfils the oracle’s prophecy. To further enhance our understanding of the roles women had to play in Elizabethan England, we will look at the characters of the three main female protagonists; Hermione, Perdita and Paulina.

Hermione is the central female character in The Winter’s Tale as she is the one who unintentionally provokes the tension and jealousy of Leontes through her role in of a charming hostess, which she uses to captivate the attention of Polixenes to stay in the court of Sicilia.

“How say you?

My prisoner, or my guest? By you dread `Verily`,

One of them you shall be.”

(Act I Scene ii lines 53-56)

Here Hermione’s gift of persuasion is clearly illustrated as she playfully convinces Polixenes to stay and he succumbs to her intelligence and wit by consenting. She has the ease of manner which is born of complete confidence in Leontes and the closeness of her relationship with Polixenes. Dramatically she is presented as the charming wife and hostess who is better at talking than Leontes.

Before the turning point and beginning of the tragic events of the tale occur, we see a realistic and ideal family scene between the heavily pregnant Hermione and her son Mamillius. Her role as a mother is just as important as her role as a wife as exemplified in her dialogue with her son. Although she is hardly able to interact with him because of her pregnancy she settles to have a delightful exchange of words where the young demanding Mamillius tells a story of “sprites and goblins”. This portrays her affection towards Mamillius and this kindness is again demonstrated during act 2 scene 1 as she is first accused of her dishonesty. She speaks mildly of her delusional husband and she first takes his accusations as a joke. Only later does she realize his seriousness. His love and affection lead her to feel secure in him.

“What is this? Sport…

You, my lord,

Do but mistake.”

(Act II Scene i lines 58, 80-81)

Another of her gracious characteristics is that she thinks about the people around her even when faced with the most uncompromising and toughest situations. This is shown when she is in court being questioned.

“Tis a derivative from me to mine,

And only that I stand for.”

(Act III Scene ii line 42-43)

This demonstrates her bravery as she doesn’t argue on her own behalf but instead of her beloved son Mamillius’ life. She also comforts her ladies when she is sent to jail and imprisoned for something we find out she is wrongly accused of, thus again showing her thinking of others before herself and her selflessness. When accused of wrong doing by Leontes, Hermione defends herself in an interesting way as she doesn’t deny the charges legally though she asks Leontes to look at her past demeanor as an innocent and trustworthy wife.

“- my past life

Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true,

As I am now unhappy; which is more

Than history can pattern,”

(Act III Scene ii line 30-35)

Thus illustrates her own complete confidence in her innocence. Her beliefs are backed up by the members of the court of Sicilia as they hold her in high esteem and regard her as a paragon of morality and virtue.

“more it would content me

To have her honour true than your suspicion,”

(Act II Scene i lines 159-160)

Hermione has qualities which make her character flawless, as she is gracious, loyal and virtuous in the eyes of everyone. These characteristics symbolize purity, which runs through to her daughter Perdita; these are the same virtues, which emphasize the baseness of Leontes false accusations. Hermione is also shown to be of devout belief as she believes that a higher order should prove her innocence to Leontes. She leaves her life in the hands of providence and faith in the oracle. Hermione is not only a symbolic figure of womanhood and purity, but she is also a very realistic character with genuine emotions. This enables the audience to believe in her and have sympathy towards Hermione and what she is going through. Clearly she is the most memorable character in the play. At the end of the play the audience realizes she has been kept in secret by Paulina to allow the oracle to be resolved.

In order for the resolution of the play to be put into effect the character of Pauline is introduced and she is a thoroughly remarkable character. She is a loyal waiting woman of Hermione who is absolutely dauntless. When we first meet Paulina we are shown that her character is dramatically forceful as she wants to confront Leontes about his allegations against his “gracious, innocent” wife as she approaches the gaoler.

“Let him have knowledge who I am”.

(Act II Scene ii line 2)

Even though Pauline is relatively unknown to the gaoler she still makes her presence felt as she boldly gives him his instructions. Paulina is the one who speaks out in Hermione’s defense and the bravery of Hermione is shown in Paulina as she aggressively tries to persuade Leontes of Hermione’s honesty and innocence.

“I say good queen,

And would by combat make her good, so were I

A man, the worst about you”.

(Act II Scene iii line 59-61)

In the context of Shakespearean England, Paulina would have been sentenced to death for being disobedient to the king. I believe Shakespeare is trying to show the audience that women can have the same significance as men in terms. This idea is important to the position of women in The Winter’s Tale as it strengthens their position as being the strong, virtuous characters in the play who area able to change things. Paulina is gifted with a sharp tongue and she is equally keen minded aswell as being absolutely dauntless.

“I’ll use that tongue I have; if wit flow from’t

As boldness from my bosom, let’t not be doubted

I shall do good”.

(Act II Scene ii line 52)

Paulina is also strong in terms of her status and this is evident where she defies her husband Antigonus whilst voicing her outrage at the king’s treatment of his wife.

“Unless he take the course that you have done –

Commit me for committing honour – trust it,

He shall not rule me”.

(Act II Scene iii line 47-49)

She is not afraid to speak her mind and her daring nature is shown through her argument with the outraged Leontes. When Camillo departs with Polixenes, Paulina takes up a similar position to him as trusted advisor to king Leontes. The fact that she is placed in this role again supports the belief that women play an important part in shaping events that unfold in the play. Camillo in his character is honest and admits to wrongdoing and Paulina mirrors this role during her time as advisor. This is shown during act 5 scene 1 when Paulina and reminds Leontes that he killed his perfect queen.

“from the all that are took something good

To make a perfect woman, she you killed

Would be unparalleled”.

(Act V Scene i line 11-15)

This makes me believe that they share the same values as each other. Through Leontes trust Paulina becomes his very influential confidant and she also feels sympathy for him after all he has lost everything in his life. Leontes at the finale of the play rewards her by marrying her and Camillo. They are indeed worthy of each other in their loyalty to what is right, true and just.

“Come, Camillo,

And take her by the hand, whose worth and honesty

Is richly noted”.

(Act V Scene iii line 142-145)

When Perdita is introduced to the play, she offers hope to the audience. Although she is the daughter of Hermione, Perdita’s character symbolizes the transition from the “sad tale” best “for winter”, to “the sweet o’ the year”, when the “red blood reigns in the winter’s pale”.

(Act II Scene i line 25)

Like her mother, Perdita possesses the same characteristics as her mother e.g.; honesty, graciousness and modesty. Unlike her beloved innocent mother, she possesses the gifts of natural virtue rather than those of a civilized virtue, possessed by Hermione. Even though she isn’t known as a princess, there is something about her which suggests noble bearing.

“You are retired,

As if you were a feasted one and not

The hostess of the meeting”

(Act IV Scene iv line 62-64)

Like her mother Perdita is also put on trial during her debate with Polixenes about flowers. Here she uses both Hermione and Paulina’s tactics in argument by being courteous but firm. She naively proclaims that the same sun, that shines on the court shines also on the shepherd’s hut, which indicates the existence of Perdita’s royal blood. Perdita’s upbringing has its limitations; therefore she is not successful as the hostess of the sheep shearing feast. The shepherd’s remarks above show that she acts as the one being feasted upon rather than a hostess. In other words her natural royalty makes her useless in a life like the shepherd’s. Her return to Sicilia is prompted by the arrival of Polixenes and Camillo and in turn she flees with Florizel to Sicilia from the court of Bohemia.

Perdita is portrayed as a youthful foil to Hermione, which re-enforces the theme of renewal and the cycle of life. Perdita is the item which “was lost (and) must be found”. Without her, the play wouldn’t get everybody back to Sicilia for the dramatic denouement.

The position of women is very difficult to interpret in The Winter’s Tale but all are dramatically vital and significant. Hermione, Paulina and Perdita are all shown as vital plot devices and are also shown as brave and helpful. Shakespeare seems to be making a point about social hierarchy in the day and the fact that even women in the play were played by women on stage is making a poignant statement about the role of women in the play.

My conclusion is that women in The Winter’s Tale are as vital as their male counterparts and I believe that during the course of the play much abuse is heaped on them. Shakespeare wanted to show the heavy burden of being a woman in his time and wanted to make a statement against the stereotypical view of them.