# Hermione — The Winter’s Tale character guide

> Hermione in The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Queen Hermione, Hermione Grace, Grace, Hermione Nay, Hermione Sir

**First appearance:** 0000-the-winter-s-tale

## Snapshot

Sicilia's queen, quick-witted and gracious, whose playful warmth with her son and her husband's friend becomes the evidence that destroys her.

## Who they are

Hermione moves through the court with an easy authority, teasing Mamillius into a winter's tale and urging Polixenes to stay with hospitable charm. When Leontes publicly names her an adulteress, she answers not with panic but with steady, wounded dignity, insisting he merely mistakes. Her composure under accusation makes the injustice unbearable to watch and anchors the play's meditation on how easily a good name can be unmade.

## Relationships

### [Leontes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/leontes)

_family_

Hermione is Leontes' wife, but his unfounded jealousy destroys their marriage and leads to her apparent death.

### [Florizel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/florizel)

_family_

Florizel is Hermione's son, but he grows up unaware of her survival until the final reunion.

### [Camillo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/camillo)

_friendship_

Camillo is a faithful friend to Hermione, defending her against Leontes' accusations and later aiding her family.

### [Clown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/clown)

_social_

The Clown is a rustic character who interacts with Hermione only peripherally, as part of the Bohemian subplot.

### [Shepherd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/shepherd)

_social_

The Shepherd finds and raises Hermione's abandoned daughter Perdita, but has no direct relationship with Hermione.

### [Polixenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/polixenes)

_friendship_

Hermione is a gracious host to Polixenes, but Leontes misinterprets their friendship as an affair.

### [Mamillius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/mamillius)

_family_

Hermione is Mamillius' loving mother, but his death from grief over her imprisonment devastates her.

### [Leontes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/leontes)

_family_

Hermione is Leontes' wife, but his unfounded jealousy destroys their marriage and leads to her apparent death.

### [Leontes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/leontes)

_family_

Hermione is Leontes' wife, but his unfounded jealousy destroys their marriage and leads to her apparent death.

### [Florizel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/florizel)

_family_

Florizel is Hermione's son, but he grows up unaware of her survival until the final reunion.

### [Florizel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/florizel)

_family_

Florizel is Hermione's son, but he grows up unaware of her survival until the final reunion.

### [Mamillius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/mamillius)

_family_

Hermione is Mamillius' loving mother, but his death from grief over her imprisonment devastates her.

## In the story

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Successfully persuades Polixenes to stay, unaware that her efforts fuel Leontes' suspicion.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Maintains her innocence with dignity as Leontes accuses her; she is taken to prison, requesting her ladies attend her.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Mentioned as being in prison, having given birth prematurely, and finding comfort in her newborn daughter.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii)

Mentioned as the queen who has given birth to a daughter and is now accused of adultery.

### [Scene II: The Trial of Hermione](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Defends herself with dignity, appeals to the oracle, and collapses upon hearing of Mamillius's death.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii)

Hermione's ghost appears to Antigonus in a dream, instructing him to name the child Perdita and foretelling that he will never see his wife again.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii)

Revealed as the living statue; she descends and embraces Leontes, blessing Perdita and confirming her survival.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters/hermione
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_winter_s_tale_se/characters