She then goes to Leontes where we again see her great power and courage. Unlike most women of the time who should have served their husbands she makes her own decisions, saying, “trust it/ He’ll not rule me” and as Antigonus tells Leontes, “When she will take the rein, I let her run/ And she’ll not stumble”. She risks her life by challenging the king and acts as a kind of mouthpiece for the audience by speaking out to Leontes what many people would believe to be true but what none of the other characters dare to say. Paulina brings Leontes’ child to him against his will and asserts her feelings about Hermione’s innocence; she says she is offering words “as med’cinal as true” and wishes to bring Leontes sleep. She risks everything with her disrespect for the king but her aim is honourable; she wishes to help Leontes and eventually joins the king and queen together again in the final scene of the play.
After the guilty verdict at Hermione’s trial, Paulina says that the “news is mortal to the Queen” which is a warning of her imminent death. One of Paulina’s key roles is shown in this scene; Paulina is Leontes’ conscious. She tells him that he must serve a penance for what he has brought upon his wife, and after his initial annoyance and anger at Paulina’s boldness and interference, he commends her – “Thou didst speak but well/ When most the truth; which I receive much better/ Than to be pitied of thee.” He intends to mourn, feeling perpetual shame brought on by Paulina’s harsh but fair words. His attitude is completely reversed from the beginning of the scene once again conveying Paulina’s strengh.
Paulina continues helping Leontes in Act V, Scene III when she prevents him from remarrying as she knows Hermione and Leontes will be reunited. She plays an important role in linking the two halves of the play as she is responsible for bringing the couple back together as well as reuniting Hermione with her daughter. Her power and influence are reiterated in this scene as she is in complete control of the situation with Leontes at her mercy. She is presented as the holder of great magical forces but not in the usual negative portrayal like witches of the time
Shakespeare uses the character of Paulina to comment on the importance of courage and faithfulness. Paulina’s loyality is a stark contrast to the temperamental rage of Leontes with which he loses faith in his wife, while she remains faithful to her friend. Though Paulina loses her husband by the will of the mad king, her courage is rewarded in the end when Leontes gives her the equally honourable Camillo as a husband, justice is served to Paulina. Paulina showed great courage in standing up to the king but also faith in him as she stands by him and acting as his conscience she helps him through his grief, remorse and repentance. She stadns faithful service to him while remaining loyal to the supposedly dead queen, overall being presented by Shakespeare as one of the most worthy characters in the play with commendable qualities of loyalty, courage and strenth.
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