King Lear: Egg-as-crown Metonymy Essay -- Shakespeare Literature

In metonymy the misprint term for one thing is applied to another with which it has become closely associated because of a recurrent relationship in common experience. Thus the wind or the scepter can be used to stand in for a king. (Abrams Glossary of Literary Terms, 98)In the play world power Lear by William Shakespeare, the Fool compares force Lears Crown to an egg. Shakespeares use of metonymy to flip the crest with an egg implies that Lears kingship is fragile and brittle, on the verge of fault at any moment. We find through the narrative of the play that this is then true King Lears kingdom crumbles due to his foolish mistakes. King Lears first mistake of laziness and selfishness leads to the banishment of Cordelia and Kent. The revelation of his mistakes leads to insaneness and eventually his death. The egg-crown metonymy here is effective. Both the egg and the crown represent something loved and delicate, making the two interchangeable. King Lear is the figurehead o f his kingdom with his power and ascendancy drawn from his crown. His crown is also a symbol for his kingdom which is inherent to his ego and can be supported with the scene where he asks his daughters to discover him how much they love him. Which of you shall we say doth love us most, /That we our largest bounty whitethorn extend /Where nature doth with merit challenge. (I, i, 53-55) King Lear demands a public peril of affection from his daughters because it demonstrates his dominance. The betrayal of Goneril and Regan destroys King Lears ability to command, as argument between the two sisters shatters his kingdom like an egg. Lears relationship to his crown can be compared to a hen and her egg both opine the world to their owners, and bot... ...When g-force clovest thy / crown i the middle and gavest away both parts, thou hadst little wit in / bald crown, (I.iv.14).Metonymy of egg-crown in King Lear is effective, the delicacy and cracking of an egg is examined and compar ed to the crown, kingdom, and kingship. An egg is naturally fragile and in King Lear, so is the crown. King Lears laziness leads to a series of events that in conclusion causes the kingdom to collapse, similar to an egg with the slightest crack. Works CitedEssay/term report card king lear lear the tragic hero. (2010, 11). Retrieved from http//www.dreamessays.com/customessays/King%20Lear/2755.htmKing lear symbolism, imagery & allegory. (2010, 11). Retrieved from http//www.shmoop.com/king-lear/symbolism-imagery.htmlShakespeare, William. King Lear. bare-assed Revised Edition. New York, NY Penguin, 1987. Print.