Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers

Help / FAQ




<- Previous | First | Next ->
MonkeyNotes-King Henry VI, Part 3 by William Shakespeare
Table of Contents

IMAGERY

Shakespeare makes use of much natural imagery to bring out the
disorder prevailing in the play. The instability of the nobles and the
general chaos are reflected in two groups of imagery grouped
around the natural elements such as the sea, tides, and wind and
that of animals. The ebb and flow of the sea acts as the main
metaphor to convey the power struggles occurring between the two
families whereas the animal imagery is used to reveal the butchery
and degraded nature of the charaters.

The stormy imagery and its associations with disorder and
instability convey the smashing and destructive power of the
characters struggling for power. This can be seen in its most
concentrated form in the similes of the storm-tossed ship that
Margaret elucidates before the final war that results in defeat of the
Lancastrians. This extended simile reveals the need for a central
authority as well as securing backing to bring prosperity and peace
to the kingdom.

Animal imagery is used to convey the hunting tactics of the two
families that prey on each other's blood and kill without conscience
as well as to be linked to the characters' more basic instincts.
Henry describes York as an eagle ready to dig his claws into him
and Margaret is revealed as a tiger, a she-wolf and an adder to
convey her baser nature. Richard is a lowly creature, a venomous
toad or a lizard. Battle scenes abound with these images as well as
the verbal sparring that occurs frequently throughout the play.

Table of Contents
<- Previous | First | Next ->
MonkeyNotes-King Henry VI, Part 3 by William Shakespeare
Google
Web
PinkMonkey




Google
  Web PinkMonkey.com   
Google
  Web Search Our Message Boards   

All Contents Copyright © 1997-2004 PinkMonkey.com
All rights reserved. Further Distribution Is Strictly Prohibited.


About Us
 | Advertising | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Home Page
This page was last updated: 11/12/2023 12:20:20 AM