Imagery In King Lear

IMAGERY IN “KING LEAR”: An image means a mental picture through words. Imagery can be defined as an art in which the objects and qualities of sense perceptions are described by literary description illusions. It is also used to present the vivid picture of visible or vivid scenes. The language used in imagery is figurative with the special ornament of simile and metaphor. The purpose of imagery is to give richness and depth of meanings. There is always some profound meaning behind imagery. King Lear” is famous for its imagery as it is the most striking feature of this play. The storm: By acting irresponsibility, Lear as a King and then as a father causes a universal upheaval in the order of universe. This upheaval is reflected and reinforced by the use of imagery. The storm is the part of universal disorder. The storm scene is presented in very artistic manner. About the effect of the storm scene, L.C. Knight says: “The effect is analogous to that of symphony in which tunes are given out, developed, varied and combined”. The storm in King Lear” is very significant. This stands for external as well as internal human nature. In fact, by the imagery of storm scene, Shakespeare presents the inner nature of human being. The Beasts: The bestial images and the images of darkness also convey the impression of disorder in the universe. The bestial or animal imagery is partly designed to show man’s place in the chain of being, and bring out the sub-human nature of evil character. It is also used to show man’s weakness compared with animals’, and partly to compare man’s life to the life of jungle. Because of the bad behaviour of Goneril and Regan, Lear hates them and calls them worse than monsters: “More hideous when thou show’st thee In a child than sea monster.” Then turning to Goneril, he calls her: “Detested kite, thou liest Albany calls her “gilded serpent” when he comes to know her reality. She is often called “tiger” and “sharp-toothed”, while Regan is called “most serpents like”. To reveal the evil nature of both sisters, bestial imagery is employed very often as they are called “adders” by Edmond. Moreover, in “KING LEAR”, the animal imagery is organized around contemptible or somewhat foolish i.e. deer, cat, dog, rat, cow, serpent, geese, snakes, dragon, foxes, and. sparrows. They help to draw the moral drift of the play. They are set up as to reinforce or to oppose each other. A close reading can exemplify all these images in the course of action. The Images of Darkness&Disease: The Images of Darkness and diseases are used to show chaos and disturbance in nature. In the play we are conscious all through of the atmosphere of buffeting, strain, and strife, and, at moments, of bodily tension to the point of agony. So naturally does this flow from the circumstances of the drama and the mental suffering of Lear. This sensation in us is increased by the generally “floating images”. To show the human body in organized torture, the words like tugged, wrenched beaten, scalded, tortured and finally broken on the rake, are used. Lear, in his agonized remorse, picture himself as a man wrenched and tortured by an “engine”. He realizes his follies and he beats his head that let his folly in. Goneril has the power to shake him with her tongue; the hot tears break from his heart. Lear cries that his heart “will break into a hundred thousand flaws.” Albany wonders how far Goneril’s eyes may pierce. Gloucester’s flawed heart is cracked, and finally it “burst smilingly”. Kent longs to “tread” Oswald into mortar. Lear cried 1

painfully: “It is more than murder.” Fool declares man torn into pieces by gods. Gloucester also cries: “As flies to wanton boys, are we to gods; They kill us for their sport.” The sense of bodily torture continues to the end. Lear tells Cordelia that he is bound “Upon a wheel of fire, that my own tears Do scald like molten lead.” The use of verbs and images of bodily torture are almost continuous and they are used to draw the direct picture as in the treatment of Gloucester; he is bound to a chair, plucked by the beard, his hair is ravished from his chin, and with his eyes blinded and bleeding, he is thrust out of the gates to smell his way to Dover. To sum up, imagery plays an important part in “KING LEAR” .The Play is a complex work and makes use of imagery effectively to convey the themes, and to give poignancy to the action. The disruption caused by Lear’s initial inability and refusal to “see better” is reflected in the images of darkness, animalism and disease.

Written&Composed By: Prof. A.R.Somroo M.A.English&Education. 0661-610063 Khangarh.

2