Wisdom from the Mind of Sir Thinks-a-Lot

 

Shakespeare's Gemstone Metaphors: Insight into Value and Perception

Shakespeare frequently uses precious stones metaphorically to illustrate abstract concepts like value, beauty, and emotion. He often employs these metaphors to enhance the reader's understanding of a character's worth or to emphasize the intensity of a particular feeling.

• Pearls as Tears and Value: Shakespeare commonly uses pearls as metaphors for tears, drawing a parallel between their physical resemblance to teardrops and their precious nature. This connection highlights the emotional value associated with tears, suggesting they are as precious as pearls. One example of this is found in Richard III, where the grieving queen is told that her tears "shall come again, transformed to orient pearl". This imagery elevates the act of weeping, imbuing it with a sense of beauty and worth. Furthermore, Shakespeare uses pearls to represent immense value, as seen in Troilus and Cressida where Helen of Troy is described as "a pearl whose price hath launched above a thousand ships". This comparison emphasizes her extraordinary worth, capable of motivating such significant action.

• Diamonds and Rubies: Illustrating Beauty, Worth, and Intensity: Diamonds are often used by Shakespeare to represent high value and brilliance, as seen in the lines from I Henry VI, "Set this diamond safe in golden palaces, as it becomes." This instruction emphasizes the diamond's inherent worth and suggests it deserves a place of honor and protection. Shakespeare uses rubies to symbolize intense emotions and striking visual imagery. In Macbeth, the "natural ruby" of Lady Macbeth's cheeks contrasts with Macbeth's own fear-stricken pallor, highlighting the difference in their responses to the apparition of Banquo's ghost. Similarly, in Cymbeline, Shakespeare compares a kiss to "rubies unparagoned," emphasizing the passionate and precious nature of the act.

• Other Gemstones: Highlighting Unique Qualities: Shakespeare uses other precious stones to emphasize specific characteristics. In Othello, the protagonist yearns for a world made of "one entire and perfect chrysolite," highlighting the rarity and desirability of this stone to represent his desire for perfection and completeness. In Twelfth Night, the ever-changing nature of the opal is used to describe a fickle mind: "Thy mind is a very opal". This comparison captures the opal's shifting colors and play of light to illustrate the unpredictable nature of thought.

Shakespeare's use of precious stones extends beyond simple comparisons. He skillfully weaves them into his works to add depth and nuance to his characters and themes. By understanding the symbolic meanings he associates with each gemstone, we gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and complexity of his writing.