Examples Of Animal Imagery In British Literature

William Shakespeare has always been known for his outgoing ideas and original writing styles. Whether it's in a play or maybe his day-to-day life Shakespeare tends to connect his work with the people who are reading it. One common way that Shakespeare relates his work to common life is his use of animal imagery. Animal imagery is the relationship between humans and animals. When Shakespeare makes these references he is trying to show who the characters are as a people, make his work more dramatic, create a vivid image in the reader's head, allow the work easily understood by readers, create foreshadowing, and connect to the characters true emotions.

The usage of animal imagery can also help to set the tone or theme of the story together, it can also help run the plot lines together and reach the major climax of the story. Imagery is meant to create an image in the reader's head. During the 1600’s time period many mothers use animal imagery to tell the story about why things are the way they are in the world around them.

Shakespear spent much of his time writing and producing work that would be enjoyed by people of all types, such as monarchy or peasant people. One way that Shakespeare made this happen is with the use of animal imagery through the writings. Macbeth was performed many times around the summer of 1606. The wording of animal imagery that Shakespeare used made sense to the people who viewed it because it was based on a real king of Scotland with a similar storyline during his rule. This made it significant for Shakespeare to use animals in his imagery that he did because it relates to what the people knew. (“According to Animal Imagery in Macbeth”).

One of his most famous plays he has written that highlight animal imagery in Macbeth.

It is believed that Macbeth is compared to the lamb in the beginning of the selection for his harmless and pure attitude but as the bad choices Macbeth makes goes on the imagery of this character changes. Shakespeare has written many plays throughout his career and used the idea of animal imagery to tell the story.

In the play Shakespeare starts with the first battle when Macbeth and Banquo were set to come in and ambush, this is replied to with “As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion” (Macbeth 1.2 35). The quote refers to how each side felt in the battle the sparrow and the hare are showing that they are afraid, while the eagle and the lion are showing that they stay strong-minded about their outcomes. Macbeth and Banquo are the eagle and lion. This can also allude to a sense of foreshadowing for how each side is going to feel the rest of the play. (“According to symbolism”).

Lady Macbeth the wife of Macbeth makes a comment when king Duncan is on his way to visit. When Duncan enters Lady Macbeth makes the comment of “The raven himself is a hoarse/ That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan” (Shakespeare Macbeth 1.5 38-39). Here Lady Macbeth is foreshadowing the future that King Duncan faces. The raven is referred to as a dark and mysterious animal that only shows itself at unfortunate times such as a murder scene. (“According to Symbols in Shakespeare's Macbeth”).

When the murder of King Duncan is done his two sons flee the county in fear for their saftey. The scene starts where Ross is having a conversation with the old man. In conversation the old man says “A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of a place, Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed” (Shakespeare Macbeth 2.4 13-14). This refers to how Macbeth felt confident in his ability to become the ruler of Scotland. Macbeth waited for the right time then sent in his assassinators. The usage behind animals imagery said by characters in a dramatic time during the storyline will allude to their motives. Animal imagery creates the vivid image by using an animal and relating it back to an action performed by the character. “There the grown serpent lies; the worm that's fled/ Hath nature that in time will venom bleed” (Shakespeare Macbeth 3.3 30-31). The worm that is fleeing is creating them image to getting out of the area because in time there will be new fatal blood shed.

Shakespear also uses types of creatures in his plays to add to the dramatic or significant parts in the story line. In the play Macbeth Shakespeare uses three witches who create a type of poison to foretell Macbeth his fate. The poison gives Macbeth three apparitions, each one alluding to something life changing for Macbeth. As the three witches piece together the the position using things collected from animals. “Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Witches mummy, maw and gulf, Of the ravined salt-sea shark, Gall of goat, and slips of yew” (Shakespeare 4.1 22-25). The ingredients that the witches piece together and to the dramatic sense of the play. This symbolizes the dark and evil that the three witches are capable of. This scene in the play is so outstanding in its animal imaging that the reader can picture, understand and relate it back to the background information already given.

Hamlet is the most popular of Shakespeare's plays, but it is also the most confusing for readers and audience members. Shakespear again uses and abundant references to animal imagery throughout this selection to help guide the readers along. (Hamlet)

Hamlet is filled with many themes, animal imagery being a major one. Animal imagery is related directly to the characters. There are two main types of animal imagery displayed. The first example is a common predator- prey relationship. This would be how Hamlet and King Cladious feel about each other. Hamlet is plotting how he will kill King Claudius for the revenge of his father King Hamlet. King Cladious is also plotting on how he will kill Hamlet to keep his secret. This is represented as a simple food chain analysis when the most dominant characters are on top and the lesser powered ones are falling behind.

The second example for how characters are related to animals is the fact that they have no morals. This is represented in Hamlet when the characters don't use rational thoughts many of these characters act as if they have none. Shakespear lead to the idea that would not have a caring attitude to spy on others. Shakespeare wanted these characters to be seen as animals, animal imagery is the most popular theme.

Hamlet uses his smarts to rewrite a common performed play of their time. He adds into the play a scene of the murder of King Hamlet. He renames the play Mousetrap. This alludes to Hamlet trying to catch the mouse or rodent in his life. Rozencrants and Gildenstern are seen as the biggest animals throughout the play for the way they betray Hamlet and tried to assassinate him. (“According to Animal imagery in Hamlet”).

Shakespeare uses many examples of bird imagery to display the greed among the characters. “The raven himself is a horse/ That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan/ Under the battlements” (Macbeth 1.5 38-40). Ravens are a common type of bird to use. Ravens symbolise a dark and mysterious mood. The quote referse that the raven knows what's to come next this adds to the climax of the story line. “So you mistake your husbands- Begin/ muder, leave thy damable faces and begin. Come, the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge” (Shakespeare Hamlet 3.2 277-279). This quote refers to how common mistakes are made and that by being quiet or speaking out about the issue can decide how your future will turn out. The raven can also represent some foreshadowing for events to come next in the plot, this adds to the dramatic imagery of his work. (“According to Comparative”).

Everyone in Shakespeare's time would speak their mind. They used proverbs that were passed down through generations, even through the nobility. These sayings have had a major influence on Shakespeare's writing. This is an easy way the writings relate to the people of the time. Shakespeare uses as much dramatic language in his work as possible to show his expressions. The use of animal imagery in a day to day conversation in the 20th century resonates with the literary devices in Julius Caesar, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, which serve to enhance the play's themes and characterizations.

“For the sun maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion - Have you a daughter?” (Shakespeare Hamlet 2.2. 173-174). This refers to how such a bad person can get entangled with a good pure person. Adding to the dramatic relationships for the characters in the play, there are many twists and turns that the characters experience.

Charles Dickens another popular and talented writer of this time period. When Dickens uses animal imagery in his work he is trying to show the appearance of a character as well as their personality. Dickens uses similes and metaphors most often then applying animal imagery. Dickens often uses this type of animal imagery to create a pattern. Typically how the characters see one another. In some of Dickens work he will associate an animal to a characters name.

“Sheep was a cant word of the time for a spy, under the galors” (Tale of Two cities pp. 366). Dickens uses this quote to show who the character really is. Sheep are intended to be quiet and sneaky. They call him the sheep because he is a spy but not a good one. Dickens also refers to Mr. Carton and Mr. Stravers law firm the Jackals, species known for their opportunistic behavior. This refers to who the characters really are as a team and their morals. (“According to form, structure”).

British literature has played a major role on how we preserve people back in the day. Shakespear and Dickens both do a good job creating a picture through their writing using animal imagery. The imagery that they use creates a dramatic sense to their stories, adds foreshadowing and helps the readers understand what they are reading. The imagery used creates its own younique and mysterious meaning to the story. Animal imagery was important to the common people who used it in day to day language, it is important to understand the uses and how it adds to the dramatic parts of our readings.