Hermione in A Winter´s Tale by Shakespeare

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Shakespeare’s play, A Winter’s Tale, has many magical and mystical elements throughout. A Winter’s Tale is true to form as one of Shakespeare’s romances. There are tragic scenes in the beginning with a romantic and joyful twist at the end. One such question raised in this play is whether Hermione, Queen of Sicily truly died and resurrected or was alive throughout the play.
It is hard to take a position on either fronts of this question because Shakespeare uses many mystical elements that play into the very question itself. Hermione, wife of Leontes King of Sicily, is accused by her beloved husband of adultery at the beginning of the play. Leontes is distraught and will not listen to anyone about the innocence of his wife. He orders his pregnant wife to be lead away to jail. While in jail Hermione gives birth to a daughter named Perdita, whom Leontes believes is the birth of the adulterous relationship that he accuses. Hermione and Leontes’ only son falls ill and soon dies, which is what is told to cause the death of Hermione. Her friend Paulina, the level-headed, hopeful and magica...

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