The Winter's Tale Chapter Summary & Analysis - Act 5, Scene 3 Summary

Act 5, Scene 3 Summary

Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina and lords enter. They are walking through Paulina's gallery in search of the statue that was made in the queen's likeness. Paulina pulls back a curtain to reveal Hermione standing on a pedestal, as still as a statue. Leontes remarks on how the artist so accurately captured the image of Hermione, yet as he remembers her she did not look as old as she does in stone, not nearly as wrinkled. He reminisces over his late wife. Perdita kneels before the mother that she never knew. She moves to kiss her hand until Paulina warns her that the statue is new and has not had ample time to dry properly.

Paulina apologizes to the king that her statue has caused him to renew his grief. She moves to close the curtain only to have Leontes stop her. He again exclaims that the statue is...
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