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

In metonymy†¦ the literal term for one thing is applied to another with which it has become closely associated because of a recurrent relationship in common experience. Thus â€Å"the crown† or the scepter can be used to stand in for a king. (Abrams’ Glossary of Literary Terms, 98) In the play King Lear by William Shakespeare, the Fool compares King Lear’s Crown to an egg. Shakespeare’s use of metonymy to replace the crown with an egg implies that Lear’s kingship is fragile and brittle, on the verge of breaking at any moment. We find through the narrative of the play that this is indeed true; King Lear’s kingdom crumbles due to his foolish mistakes. King Lear’s first mistake of laziness and selfishness leads to the banishment of Cordelia and Kent. The revelation of his mistakes leads to madness and eventually his death. The egg-crown metonymy here is effective. Both the egg and the crown represent something precious and delicate, making the two interchangeable. King Lear is the figurehead of his kingdom with his power and command drawn from his crown. His crown is also a symbol for his kingdom which is essential to his ego and can be supported with the scene where he asks his daughters to tell him how much they love him. â€Å"Which of you shall we say doth love us most, /That we our largest bounty may extend /Where nature doth with merit challenge.† (I, i, 53-55) King Lear demands a public display of affection from his daughters because it demonstrates his dominance. The betrayal of Goneril and Regan destroys King Lear’s ability to command, as competition between the two sisters’ shatters his kingdom like an egg. Lear’s relationship to his crown can be compared to a hen and her egg; both mean the world to their owners, and bot... ..."When thou 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 fragility and cracking of an egg is examined and compared to the crown, kingdom, and kingship. An egg is naturally fragile and in King Lear, so is the crown. King Lear’s laziness leads to a series of events that ultimately causes the kingdom to collapse, similar to an egg with the slightest crack. Works Cited Essay/term paper: king lear: lear the tragic hero. (2010, 11). Retrieved from http://www.dreamessays.com/customessays/King%20Lear/2755.htm King lear symbolism, imagery & allegory. (2010, 11). Retrieved from http://www.shmoop.com/king-lear/symbolism-imagery.html Shakespeare, William. King Lear. New Revised Edition. New York, NY: Penguin, 1987. Print.