According to this article, leaning is an artifact of reclining while eating, and reclining while eating was historically only done by noblemen--people of leisure. Leaning on Passover, then, is taken as a symbol of freedom from slavery in Egypt. (The left side is more of a practical issue--it's less restrictive on the windpipe. There's another practical issue today as well, in that it makes the adults more accessible to the children while asking the Four Questions, but it seems the symbolism is more relevant to this question).

The second part of the question is, is leaning (i.e. reclining like one at ease) at odds with the symbolism of the bread of affliction -- the matzah (aka poor man's bread? How can one be at ease (rich) and afflicted (poor) at the same time? As this tradition is not part of my background, I can only speculate.

I suggest that the symbolism of freedom from bondage and eating poor man's bread show the dual nature of the children of Israel being freed from bondage but that they're not going to become proud--they remain humble.

Then again it could all be an amazing coincidence.
Source(s):
http://www.jewishmag.com/112mag/leaning/leaning.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/pa2/passover/thefourquestions.html
http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/168,2193473/Why-do-we-eat-Matzah-on-Pass...


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