The answer to this question, in my humble opinion, is abso-freakin-lutely!!! I originally became interested in this untold history because I was curious as to why we needed imagery, a way to visualize, when we focus so heavily on written and spoken language. Do we need to have both? Or could we survive as a culture (a much different culture) only using symbols to communicate? My research has shown me that, while it's possible to communicate through symbols and images, language and imagery go hand in hand, and rely on one another to help us to understand not only language, but emotion and meaning.
I thought about texts that I have read that had imagery in it that I found so beautiful or overwhelming and couldn't pick one to post as an example, so I turned to the man, the myth, the legend: Shakespeare. His Sonnet 130 is a great example of how we use metaphor in language every day and don't really realize it, it's so natural. In this sonnet, Shakespeare kind of calls himself and all other writers out, being a little more realistic in his description of "his mistress".
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask’d, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
God bless you, Shakespeare.
I thought about texts that I have read that had imagery in it that I found so beautiful or overwhelming and couldn't pick one to post as an example, so I turned to the man, the myth, the legend: Shakespeare. His Sonnet 130 is a great example of how we use metaphor in language every day and don't really realize it, it's so natural. In this sonnet, Shakespeare kind of calls himself and all other writers out, being a little more realistic in his description of "his mistress".
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask’d, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
God bless you, Shakespeare.
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