Winter’s Tale Act 4/5
Comments(2)
Hermonie supposedly died when she was accused of adultery with Polixenes. During her trial she fainted and was taken away than later confirmed dead by Paulina “I say she’s dead; I’ll swear ‘t” (3.2.201). In act five, scene three Leontes takes his daughter to see the statue of her dead mother at Paulina’s house. Leontes is distraught that Hermonie is dead and he feels that he has robbed the kingdom of their queen. He feels guilt for her death because he accused her of adultery with his friend Polixenes. Paulina shows Leontes the lifelike statue that seems as if it has aged sixteen years the way that Hermonie would have aged. He is amazed at how lifelike the statue is and wants to kiss it. Paulina stops him and tells him that the paint is not dry and that he would ruin it if he touched it. She than tells him that she can make the statue move and begins to play music and cast a spell to make the statue come to life. The statue of Hermonie than comes to life and hugs Leontes “She hangs about his neck; if she pertain to life, let her speak too” (5.3.113). I think that when Hermonie fainted and was taken away during her trial she and Paulina agreed to trick people into thinking she was dead. She did this because she was wrongfully accused of having an affair with Polixenes and wanted to teach her husband a lesson. She knew that Leontes was jealous and he had no other reason for accusing her “But what your jealousies awake, I tell you ‘Tis rigor, not law” (33.2.111). Leontes jealousy drove him to accuse his wife of adultery and even throw her in jail. I think that Paulina and Hermonie where in it together because of the way that Paulina supposedly tries to comfort Leontes about his dead wife. She tells Leontes that he killed the perfect woman and that he should not try to find another wife “To make the perfect woman, she you killed would be unparalleled” (5.1.15). I think that Hermonie planed to fake her own death because she felt betrayed because her king accused her of adultery only because he was jealous and wanted to make him realize that he was wrong.
I totally agree that Hermione faked her own death as a spur-of-the-moment decision. Not only does Paulina continuously guilt Leontes about Hermoine’s supposed death, but he also makes him promise to never marry again (5.1.69-70), and also visits Hermione’s house three times a day, every day for the sixteen years she’s been “dead” (5.2.112-115). Additionally, Hermione dies off screen, and when she does “come back to life,” she’s aged through the sixteen years. There are clues even earlier too when, in 3.3.17-18, Antigonus remarks “thy mother appeared to me last night; for ne’er was dream so like awaking.”
The only thing I feel that brings about some doubt to this idea is that Leontes requests to see the body of Hermione in 2.3.232. Perhaps it can be explained as yet another important event occurring off screen, something this play is notorious for.
I don’t see the importance of trying to figure out why Hermione faked her death. It is another element in the play that occurs off-stage that leaves an audience unsatisfied. What would be more intriguing to me is to know how Hermione and Paulina kept faith in the Oracle’s prophecy to keep her hidden for 16 years. Going with the theme that Shakespeare wrote the final scene reflective of the transformative power of art, I believe that the audience is just not privy to all aspects of art. Maintaining separation provides another way for the audience to participate/engage with speculation, and inspires creativity in imagining what fills the empty space. Much like painters and photographers deliberately use negative space in their work, Shakespeare chooses to leave gaps in the play in order to evoke a reaction from the audience.