So in reading Hermione's defense in "The Winter's Tale", I have to say the woman was quite an educated and well-spoken individual. She plays upon various aspects in her defense, all of which are very successful (except, for not really in the play, because she "dies" anyway). To outline a few:
1. She admits she knows that claiming innocence will do her no good, since it requires that she contradict her husband and king.
2.She personifies things like "false accusation", "tyranny", and "patience". This makes these things more tangible and life-like.
3. She reminds the king to look upon her past actions as proof of her innocence. She has been faithful as queen and bedmate to her husband, the king.
4. She contrasts life and honor, and tells the king to essentially go ahead and take her life, but spare her honor. This is very effective, as an honorable woman wouldn't have an affair with her husband's childhood friend and then stick around to defend her reputation. "To me can life be no commodity."
5. She stays strong. She tells the king at one point that his threats are pointless and to spare her of them. That which he threatens her with is no threat to her, as she has already lost all that make her life worth living (his favor, her son, her daughter, and her reputation).
Hermione is a strong woman with a very tragic story. In my opinion, Shakespeare portrays Hermione as a stronger and more righteous character than any other in this story, and in doing so puts forward a very strong and intelligent female presence.
