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.
"Wretched," another word Shakespeare used in the passage, was used to characterize those such as himself who have lived their lives depending on the approval of others. The connotations of "wretched" are despair and hopelessness. These particular choices of words are negative and imply that Wolsey has no hope for his future, leaving him feeling despair and desperation. Shakespeare’s choice of allusion provides the reader’s an insight in the extremity of Wolsey's emotional state.

By using figurative language in the passage, Shakespeare conjures visuals that demonstrate Wolsey's frustration along with despair.
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
fluctuates.

Lastly, Shakespeare uses a shift in tone to demonstrate the complexity of Wolsey's emotions. The tone begins bitter when Wolsey brushes off the possibility of losing "the little good" he gets from the king. He claims the world is "vain," saying we all focus on status, and exclaims, "I hate ye!" This tone exposes Wosley's hostility. Afterward, his speech shifts to a tone of hopelessness and despair. He discusses the life he led as a "wretched” man, giving off self-pity by identifying himself as a "poor man”, and even going as far as saying his future has no hope whatsoever. The shift in tone between bitterness and hopelessness reflects the emotions between which Wolsey is struggling. Through this particular change, Shakespeare shows that emotional reactions are often faced with many more.

Allusion, figurative language, and a shift in tone were all very substantial in Shakespeare’s attempt to convey the emotions of his character, Wolsey in the poem. Shakespeare demonstrates Wolsey's response to his dismissal as both hostile and despairing. The words Wolsey uses reflect the strength of his emotions, the images he creates fortify this description, and the shift in tone emphasizes the split between his emotions. By employing these three tactics, Shakespeare reflects the powerful complexity of Wosley's reaction, and of human emotions as a whole.