Does Shakespeare Use Personification? Unveiling the Magic of His Language

When you read Shakespeare, you might notice that the world around his characters often seems more alive than in other plays. You’re not just dealing with people, but with elements, nature, and even abstract concepts that take on personalities of their own. This is all thanks to Shakespeare's use of personification—a literary device that gives human qualities to non-human things. In this article, I’ll dive into how Shakespeare uses personification to make his works richer and more vivid.

What is Personification?

The Basics of Personification

Well, first off, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what personification actually is. It’s a literary device where non-human things—be it an object, an idea, or a force of nature—are given human characteristics. For example, when you say, "The wind whispered through the trees," you're giving the wind the human ability to whisper. It’s like turning the wind into a character itself.

Shakespeare, being the master of language that he is, loved to use this technique to breathe life into the world of his plays. If you read some of his works closely, you’ll see this technique everywhere.

Shakespeare’s Use of Personification in His Plays

Bringing Nature to Life

Actually, one of the most striking ways Shakespeare uses personification is by giving nature human-like qualities. Take, for example, the famous line from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where the character of Hippolyta speaks of the moon:
"The moon methinks looks with a watery eye."
Here, the moon is personified as a figure with a “watery eye,” evoking a sense of sadness or mystery. This is Shakespeare's way of allowing the natural world to reflect human emotion, creating a deeper connection between the audience and the environment of the play.

I remember reading this line for the first time and thinking, "Wow, it’s not just about the moon—it’s almost like the moon feels something." And that’s the power of personification—it turns simple objects or concepts into characters with emotional depth.

Using Personification to Amplify Themes

Another way Shakespeare utilizes personification is to emphasize larger themes in his plays. In Macbeth, for example, Lady Macbeth says:
"Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe topful of direst cruelty!"
Here, the spirits are personified as beings that tend to her thoughts, giving them the ability to influence her in a very human way. The spirits are no longer just intangible, abstract concepts—they have agency. This helps underline Lady Macbeth's struggle with her conscience and desire for power, which is an ongoing theme throughout the play.

Personification in Describing Emotions

Honestly, I love how Shakespeare uses personification to explore complex emotions. In The Tempest, Prospero describes wrath as if it were a person:
"Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves, and ye that on the sands with printless foot do chase the ebbing Neptune..."
By personifying anger or vengeance as a character or a force, Shakespeare elevates the emotional tension and makes abstract feelings tangible. It’s like when you're frustrated, and you imagine your anger as something you can actually push away or confront head-on.

Why Does Shakespeare Use Personification?

Deepening Emotional Impact

So, why does Shakespeare choose to use personification so often? Well, one big reason is that it enhances the emotional resonance of his plays. By turning abstract concepts or nature into characters with human qualities, Shakespeare allows his audience to engage with the world of the play in a much deeper way. The wind isn’t just wind anymore; it’s something that whispers, sighs, or howls. These descriptions make the emotions feel more real and visceral.

Making the World Feel Alive

Another reason Shakespeare uses personification is that it makes the world of his plays feel alive. When the natural world responds to the characters or events of the play, it creates a dynamic environment. The weather, for instance, isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a participant. In King Lear, Shakespeare writes:
"Thou nature art my goddess; to thy law my services are bound."
Here, nature isn’t just a setting—it’s an authority, a force to be reckoned with. Shakespeare’s ability to make nature feel like an active, conscious part of the drama allows the audience to be immersed in his worlds fully.

The Impact of Shakespeare's Personification on Modern Readers

Resonating Through Time

Shakespeare’s use of personification continues to have a profound impact on modern readers and audiences. As I’ve discovered in my own experience, personification can really make us think about the world around us in new ways. When we read Shakespeare, we don't just see nature or emotions as passive—they’re active forces that shape the world and influence the characters.

By giving human traits to everything from the moon to abstract concepts like love or death, Shakespeare makes these things more relatable and engaging. It’s a technique that not only makes the language more beautiful but also connects us to universal human experiences.

Conclusion: Shakespeare’s Mastery of Personification

So, does Shakespeare use personification? Absolutely! His works are littered with examples, from the moon with a "watery eye" to emotions personified as forces that shape destinies. What makes it so remarkable is not just the frequency of the technique, but how it brings his world to life—it’s as if Shakespeare’s stage is not just a physical place, but a living, breathing entity.

Next time you read a Shakespeare play, pay close attention to how he uses personification. You might be surprised by how many inanimate objects or abstract ideas take on a life of their own. And who knows? You might even start seeing the world around you in a whole new light.

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The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

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Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.