Horticulture And Shakespeare

7 Pages 1869 Words

e / Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight.” The apricots have become “unruly,” or uncontrollable, causing the branches of the tree to bend from their weight. Shakespeare incorporates political rhetoric such as “sire” and “oppression” to emphasize the allusion of Richard’s court. According to E.M.U. Tillyard, the apricots, “unless restrained” will “upset the proper relation between parent and offspring, to offend against the great principle of order.” Tillyard believes the apricots represent Richard’s subjects who are overpowering his reign. The word “stoop” has two important meanings: the first definition means, “to bend,” representing the physical movement of the tree branches from the weight of the apricots. The second definition, “to lower oneself,” presents Richard as a complacent king, allowing his advisors to overrun his kingdom
In addition, Shakespeare includes a reference to weeds in the allegory to describe Richard’s unmanageable advisors taking away the power from the king. The gardener’s instructions to his helpers to eliminate the weeds implicitly becomes a suggestion for King Richard to “weed” the corrupt people in his court:
Go thou, and like an executioner
Cut off the heads of [too]-fast-growing sprays
That look too lofty in our commonwealth.
All must be even in our government.
You thus employed, I will go root away
The noisome weeds which without profit suck
The soil’s fertility from wholesome flowers.
Here the image shifts fro...