Imagery IN king Lear

King Lear incorporates many different sets of images that remain consistent throughout the entire play. They are used to represent the characteristics of many of the main characters, illustrate important ideas that relate to the plays central themes and also provide a form of explanation that helps the audience gain a better understanding of some of the plays key events.

The images presented in the opening scene of Act one are prophetic. They are used to foreshadow many of the later; more elaborate use of imageries and provide a brief introduction to their importance in respect to many of the plays central themes. Lear calling upon nature when Cordelia displeases him with her words marks the beginning for what will become a very intense relationship between him and nature. His statement to ‘confer duties onto younger strengths, while we unburdened crawl toward death”, unintentionally takes on an even more literal meaning that what he proposed, as his actions and ‘blindness...