As a Shakespearean tragedy, King Lear is full of dramatic imagery. While it is memorable and captivating, keeping the reader on the edge of his seat, it also serves a purpose in developing the characters and granting an insight into the playwright’s wisdom. He explores fundamental themes: good versus evil, appearance versus reality, strength and vulnerability – to name but a few. I will focus on animal imagery, that of sight and blindness, a kaleidoscope of imagery relating to appearance versus reality and, finally, natural imagery, as they are used to enhance the play.

Animal imagery is used to reveal the key theme of ruthless power. The association of Goneril and Regan with beasts of prey reflects on their ferocious animal nature, their lack of humanity and their unnatural cruelty. Lear’s language when speaking about his “pelican daughters” reflects their power over him. He is joined by Albany, who regards the cruelty of the two daughters as inhumane, calling them “tigers, not daughters”. Animal imagery suggests the law of the jungle, where law and order is disregarded and only the strongest and most ruthless will survive. Man in his weakness is compared to animals in their strength. This is conveyed by Lear as he battles the elements during the storm: “The night wherein the cub drawn bear would crouch, the lion and the belly pinched wolf keep their fur dry.”

Animal imagery is used to effectively enhance the abhorrently cruel character of Goneril. She is associated with animal imagery throughout the play. She is referred to as a “detested kite,” a “sea monster” and a “gilded serpent.” Her cruelty is summed up in animal terms as “sharper than a serpents tooth”.  Goneril’s character also succumbs to the earlier animal-termed prophecy: “Humanity must perforce prey on itself like monsters of the deep.” Goneril is responsible for his sister’s death as she poisons her former ally out of jealously. Later she commits suicide when she realises she has lost all power. It is no coincidence that Goneril, the greatest evil in the play, is the character most associated with animal imagery, enhancing her lack of humanity and inhumane cruelty.

During his opening soliloquy, the evil Edmund dedicates his cause to nature and disowns the natural order of inheritance: “Thou nature art my goddess.” Gloucester’s character is viewed as “credulous” by Edmund as he believes nature is in control of mankind “as flies to wanton boys are we to th’ gods. They kill us for their sport.”. In fact, Shakespeare describes a pagan world where imagery of the sky is closely associated with religion: “Things that love night love not such nights as these; the wrathful skies. Gallow the very wanderers of the dark”… “For by the sacred radiance of the sun.” Thus, images of the sky are closely related to morality. Perhaps, Shakespeare is hinting at a warped perception of nature by a pagan people: the skies don’t seem to help the characters a whole lot.