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Examples Of Figurative Language In Henry Viii

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Examples Of Figurative Language In Henry Viii
In his play Henry VIII, author William Shakespeare does an incredible job of conveying the emotions of his character Wolsey, who has just received the shock of his dismissal as the King's advisor. Shakespeare's description is realistic because it reflects the range of feelings people often undergo when reeling from an unexpected disappointment. Wolsey's soliloquy reveals anger and lamentation as he struggles to come to terms with what has happened. Shakespeare portrays both the hostility and despair of Wolsey's reaction through allusion, figurative language, and an altercation in tone.

The words Shakespeare picks reflect Wolsey's reaction because they show strong emotion. Wolsey describes himself as "weary," which suggests that he has put all his effort and time into his position, leaving him feeling tired. "Weary" connotes aging, as if Wolsey has expended a great amount of time in his dedication to his work. …show more content…
He utilizes the metaphor of a fragile flower to symbolize Wolsey's spirit, first off by saying "the tender leaves of hopes," then blooming only to be struck by a "killing frost." This image shows Wolsey's weakness and innocence. The frost, which represents the king's dismissal of Wolsey, is very cruel. By placing the sprouting, blooming, and death of the flower within a short three-day span, Shakespeare indicates Wolsey's anger at how quickly he fell from the top. Shakespeare uses figurative language to show Wolsey's hopelessness too. Using a form of simile, he also compares Wolsey to Satan or “Lucifer”, the angel who fell out of God's favor and was banished to Hell, never to come back again. This comparison directly ties to Wolsey's conviction that he has no hope and must instead only look forward to misery in his near and distant future. These compelling uses of imagery show the two emotions between which Wolsey
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