Final answer:
In The Winter's Tale, a character's heart may harden, whereas in 'Pygmalion and Galatea,' a heart softens and seeks forgiveness, demonstrating the themes of redemption and transformational love.
Step-by-step explanation:
One contrast between Act 5, Scene 3 of The Winter's Tale and the mythological story "Pygmalion and Galatea" is that in Shakespeare's play, a character's heart is in danger of hardening beyond recovery, while in the myth, Pygmalion's heart softens as the statue he created and fell in love with becomes a living woman, leading to a plea for forgiveness and acceptance of love. In The Winter's Tale, we witness a redemption arc where previously hardened hearts are thawed by repentance and forgiveness, while in "Pygmalion and Galatea," we see the transformational power of love as Pygmalion's wish for his perfect sculpture to come to life is granted, reflecting his own emotional softening and desire for genuine connection.