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Symbolism and Animal Imagery in King Lear
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In King Lear
A symbol is something that represents an idea, a process, or a physical entity. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning.
The storm is a symbol of the anguish and chaos experienced in the play by Lear and Britain as an entirety
"Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters. I tax you not, you elements, with unkindness. I never gave you kingdom, called you children, you owe me no subscription." (3.2. 15-18)
The blindness as a whole is a symbol of each characters failures to see the hidden reality.
Gloucester deceived by Edmund
Edgar deceived by Edmund
Lear blind to false love
Lear naive to daughters plots
"I have no way, therefore want no eyes. I stumbled when I saw." (4.1.21)
"O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!" (3.7.104)
It is ironic that Gloucester, now blind, can see the truth behind Edmund's plot, and Edgar's innocence in revealed.
"I have taken too little care of this."
Ignorant to struggles of common men - Selfish
Animal Imagery
Shakespeare uses an ample amount of animal imagery to portray the characteristics of the villains and give a comparative source to refer to.
Crumbling of family ties
Cruelty of the villains
Karma
Chaos in the kingdom
The Storm
"Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?"
(4.2. 45)
Storm dispersion = Revelations
Blindness
Lear's inner anguish
Albany refers to Goneril and Regan as tigers
Pathetic Fallacy
"Detested kite! Thou Liest!" (1.4. 254)
What is a symbol?
Lear calls Goneril a kite, which is another word for vulture or bird of prey.
"When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails she'll flay thy wolvish visage.(1.4. 301)
Lear accuses Goneril of possessing a wolf-like appearance.
"Should have thus little mercy on their flesh? Judicious punishment! 'Twas tis flesh begot those pelican daughters." (3.4. 72-74)
Lear is assimilating his daughters with pelicans.