Imagery helps to paint a picture in the mind in addition it helps to evoke an emotional response from the reader. Allowing a reader to see, smell, taste and feel through the words. Shakespeare used this method in other poems and plays and was practiced at its execution. In King Richard II comparing England to a garden is just one of the examples, he also uses a tree to help to visualize a family bloodline and being a king is related to an overgrown garden. The use of imagery in the play The Tragedy of King Richard II allowed Shakespeare to call attention to topics in a romantic way rather than in a crude manner. In Act 2 Scene 2 John of Gaunt is on his deathbed when he delivers an eloquent monologue where he is comparing England to a garden. …show more content…
John of Gaunt is talking to the Duchess of Glouster about the death of her husband, Gaunt’s own brother. The Duchess is distraught that the murderer of her husband is not to be brought to an appropriate justice. It is implied that King Richard is the one that ordered her husband be killed because of jelousy. In this scene the Duchess compares Edward’s blood line to a tree as she berates Gaunt for not taking action; “Were as seven vials of his sacred blood Or seven fair branches springing from one root. Some of those seven are dried by nature’s course, Some of those branches by the Destinies cut; But Thomas, my dear lord, my life, my Gloucester, One vial full of Edward’s sacred blood, One flourishing branch of his most royal root, Is cracked, and all the precious liquor spilt, Is hacked down, and his summer leaves all faded, By envy’s hand and murder’s bloody ax” (Shakespeare, c.1595, Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 13-21). She compares her husbands death to the premature severing of a branch from a tree when it was in its …show more content…
Ironically the Queen is in the garden trying to find some distraction for her worried mind. She is concerned for her husband and his fate when she overhears the gardener speaking of her husbands doom and wrong doings. The gardener and his helper are discussing the state of the garden in relation to the state of the kingdom; “When our sea-walled garden, the whole land, Is full of weeds, her fairest flowers choked up, Her friut trees all unpruned, her hedges ruined, Her knots disordered, and her wholesome herbs Swarming with caterpillars” (Shakespeare, c.1595, Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 40-47). They go on to openly discuss the consequence of the kings actions in lines 47-52 “Hold thy peace. He that hath suffered this disordered spring Hath now himself met with the fall of leaf. The weeds which his broad-spreding leaves did shelter, That seemed in eating him to hold him up, Are plucked up root and all by Bolinbroke” (Shakespeare, c.1595, Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 47-52). The gardener feels that even though King Richard has done wrong and will answer for those transgressions, he did not act alone and was influenced by the people he chose to surround himself
In the story "The Chrysanthemums," by John Steinbeck, imagery is important in the development of his characters. The man who drives the wagon and fixes things is a perfect example of imagery. "His worn black suit was wrinkled and spotted with grease. The laughter had disappeared from his face and eyes the moment his laughing voice ceased. His eyes were dark, and they were full of the
Ambition is an earnest desire for achievement. Both texts are self reflexive and emphasise Richard’s obsessive ambition, desire and longing for the throne. Each Richard strives towards capturing the throne regardless of consequences and bloodshed. Richard is depicted in both texts as an ambitious character who strives to gain power and independence through deception and self confessed villainy. ‘Since I cannot prove a lover. . . I am determined to prove a villain’ This obsession which drives Richard to commit horrific evils to gain and then protect his claim to the throne. His ambition, power and evil blinds him and inevitably is responsible for his downfall in both of the texts. A connection is formed between Looking for Richard and King Richard III in the final scenes Al Pacino’s interpretation and ‘Hollywood’ background influences an ending which can be interpreted as portraying Richmond as a coward. Elizabethan audiences
“HUGH, YOU ARE GUSHING BLOOD!!!” Our heads spin around to see bright, red blood all over his shoes, feet, and the boat. The sight of blood immediately made my stomach drop and put everyone into an instant frenzy. Blood causes people to react because of the stir of emotion it causes, and the same can be said for imagery. Authors of all types of literature use imagery as a tool to engross their readers and make their senses come alive, specifically Shakespeare. In all of Shakespeare’s work a key instrument he uses is imagery; he uses it to make the reader feel connected and that the work he/she is reading is three dimensional. In one of Shakespeare’s plays, Macbeth, he especially uses imagery. The word “blood” is used over 40 times and the person who says “blood” the most is Macbeth. As the play progresses Macbeth kills more and more and becomes wrapped more tightly in the web of evil. Shakespeare uses the theme web of evil, through imagery to show how the increasingly immoral actions of Macbeth make him unable to escape his consequences.
Richard’s aspiration for power caused him to sacrifice his morals and loyalties in order to gain the throne of England. Shakespeare refers to the political instability of England, which is evident through the War of the Roses between the Yorks and Lancastrians fighting for the right to rule. In order to educate and entertain the audience of the instability of politics, Shakespeare poses Richard as a caricature of the Vice who is willing to do anything to get what he wants. As a result, the plans Richard executed were unethical, but done with pride and cunningness. Additionally, his physically crippled figure that was, “so lamely and unfashionable, that dogs bark at me as I halt by them,” reflects the deformity and corruption of his soul. The constant fauna imagery of Richard as the boar reflected his greedy nature and emphasises that he has lost his sense of humanity.
Shakespeare’s Richard III, is filled with desires and determination to achieve and fulfill ambition. Shakespeare uses the power of language to explicate Richard’s manipulative ways to fulfill his desires of becoming king, thus doing so by bringing darkness to the content world of others. According to Anderson’s article The Death of a Mind: Study of Shakespeare’s Richard III Richard’s state of mind is oriented around imposing “dark shadows over the positive dispositions of the others’ lives” (Anderson 701); he works at spreading destruction and grievance to those around him. Throughout the play Richard is in his own state of mind, with his main focus on the crown. Act I scene ii, illustrates Richard’s power and manipulative ways through language in order to gain advantage and gain a step forward in achieving the crown. The dialogue between Richard and Lady Anne at King Henry’s funeral exemplifies his manipulation when he uses charming and charismatic words to obtain her attention. Throughout this essay I will agree with Anderson’s point that Richard’s manipulative ploy is a means of fulfilling his ambition. This essay will explicate how Richard manipulates and uses the power of language to exemplify what his deranged state of mind can do to unsuspecting and naive minds. Lady Anne, her character at the beginning of the scene is distressed and angered, however as the scene progresses, Richard’s dialogue with Lady Anne begins to illustrate her naive mind and weak character
What Shakespeare is trying to explain is that revenge is a two edge sword. When used correctly revenge can lead to success and wealth; however, it can also be a flaw that leads to corruption and death. Revenge is an emotion that consumes someone's ever waking moment, and becomes their addiction. Perhaps this is something that every person should remember. Revenge is dangerous. Revenge is not something that should be taken lightly. As the bible states, we should be slow to speak, slow to anger, and in this case slow to
Imagery is a way to amplify theme in Macbeth by William Shakespeare. It portrays many different themes in the play. Imagery is used in many different ways, such as blood, animals and, light and dark.
Richard then gloats over his success in a soliloquy stating how he has won her heart even though he is regarded by her as the devil with dissembling looks and he stabbed Edward her love just 3 months earlier. This highlights how he thinks of himself as the best as he brags about his misdeeds as though he is immortal.
In all of Shakespeare's plays he uses many forms of imagery. Imagery is the art of making images, the products of imagination. In the play 'Macbeth' Shakespeare applies the imagery of clothing, darkness and blood. Each detail is his imagery, seems to contain an important symbol of the play, symbols that the audience must understand if they are to interpret either a passage or the play as a whole.
The imagery of decay used at slightly different parts of the play shows Shakespeare's mastery of imagery to change the atmosphere, and therefore, to give the story more impact.
In King Lear. Shakespeare uses imagery of great imaginative depth and resonance to convey his major themes and to heighten the readers experience of the play. There are some predominant image patterns.
It is only during his deposition and his imprisonment that Richard shows his greatest strength as a dramatic figure. Although occasionally he seems to demonstrate self-pity, he also reveals himself to have an acute awareness of the ironies and absurdities in the structure of power of his kingdom. He still compels the court to reconsider his initial claim that the crown is divinely appointed: “Not all the water… can wash the balm of an anointed king (3.2.55)”. Although he keeps reminding those present of his God-given mandate to rule, he seems also to take pleasure in passing on the trails of kingship to his successor. As a King, He does have a God-given position of being the king. But as a king one should know the difference between moral values and ethics values. Just because Richard is King and is appointed by God doesn’t give him any rights to be an awful ruler. He can’t always fight a problem by saying that he is
In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, imagery is used to set the tone of a passage, provide contrast and irony to scenes, and help to display character. Shakespeare applies the imagery of clothing, darkness, and blood in an exceptional manner to describe his play. Each one of these is an important symbol used throughout the play. They add to a complete understanding of a passage or the play as a whole.
A general finish of most pundits is that Richard II is a play about the affidavit of a "frail and feminine" ruler. That he was a feeble ruler, will be yielded. That he was a mediocre individual, won't. The understanding to Richard's character and inspiration is to see him as a man reliably acting his way through life. Richard was a man who held extraordinary love for show and function. This peculiarity positively drove him to settle on choices as lord that were poor, and in actuality a maladroit ruler. Notwithstanding this imperfection in character, Richard could be seen as a clever, wise individual, yet illsuited for his acquired occupation.
Explore the significance of this extract in relation to the tragedy of the play as a whole. Remember to include in your answer relevant analysis of Shakespeare’s dramatic methods. [