The Winter's Tale, Act 2 Scene 2 — Summary & Analysis

What happens

Paulina visits the prison where Hermione is held, determined to see the queen and offer comfort. Though the Gaoler initially refuses her access, Paulina persuades him to let her speak with Emilia, Hermione's attendant. Emilia reports that Hermione has given birth to a daughter in captivity and finds solace in the child, declaring herself as innocent as the prisoner. Paulina resolves to bring the newborn to Leontes, believing that witnessing his daughter's innocence and beauty might soften his jealous heart.

Why it matters

This scene establishes Paulina as the moral force that will oppose Leontes throughout the play. Her refusal to be intimidated by the Gaoler's authority—she invokes her status and moral standing to gain access—shows her as someone willing to defy power structures when justice demands it. The prison setting itself reinforces the brutality of Leontes' actions: Hermione, innocent and pregnant, is locked away on the word of a jealous king. Paulina's determination to act, despite the danger, marks her as a character who will become increasingly central to the play's movement toward redemption.

The birth of Perdita in prison is pivotal: it represents both the depth of Hermione's suffering and the symbol of hope that will eventually restore the family. Emilia's report that Hermione finds comfort in the child and claims innocence mirrors what we know to be true, creating dramatic irony—the audience sees the injustice while characters within the court remain deceived. Paulina's plan to show the baby to Leontes reflects her belief in the power of innocence and beauty to pierce through jealousy. Her confidence that 'silence often of pure innocence / Persuades when speaking fails' becomes the thematic heart of the play's second half.