A Winter's Tale II -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 10:44:26 04/20/08 Sun
Author: Shannon
Subject: A Winter's Tale II

Another interesting poddible example of mimesis in A Winter Tale's opening act is between Leontes and Hermione. Having crafted a rivalry between himself and his friend Polixenes for the affections of his (Leontes) wife, Leontes endevors to "prove" this infidelity he suspects. While trying to convince Polixenes to stay longer (thereby forcing Polixenes to shose Leontes' family over his own, symptomatic of the very infidelity and treason he suspects), Leontes commands Hermione to also attempt to convince their guest. At first, Hermione insists on directing her request towards Leontes:
"I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until
You had drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir,
Charge him too coldly. Tell him you are sure
All in Bohemia is well; this satisfaction
The bygone day proclaimed. Say this to him,
He's beat from his best ward."
She even completes this reasoning with an oath of fidelity to Leontes: "Yet, good deed, Leontes,/ I love thee not a jar o'th' clock behind/ What lady she her lord."
When Hermione succeeds in convincing Polixenes to stay, Leontes compliments her power of speech and compares this exchange with her acceptence of his marriage proposal. Yet, within a few lines, Leontes accuses Hermione of being unfaithful for these very appeals and comparisons which he prompted and created. As is often the case, Leontes imaginatively forces Hermione to appropriate the desires and implications he suspects, thereby re-affirming the reality he has already crafted within his mind.

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Replies:

More mimesis in the winter's tale -- Betsy Peters, 17:50:51 04/21/08 Mon