...minus the answer”, a reader can find that the central question posed by Shakespeare’s King Lear concerns morality. More specifically, King Lear’s treatment of the question of whether a moral life is necessarily a better life is brought out in the juxtaposition of the characters Edmund and Cordelia, and the universality of King Lear explored through the modern philosophies associated with each. One of the most polarized characters of the play, Edmund is a character willing to commit heinous deeds like framing his own brother, arranging the murder of his own brother and committing adultery with Goneril and Regan. Rather than trying to please the Gods with morally sound actions, he instead calls for them to “stand up” for “bastards” like him who are earning a place in society through trickery and deceit. Until his death looms over him, Edmund remains unashamedly unrepentant of his behavior and seems almost proud of his lack of moral fiber. Unfortunately for Edmund, he dies of a mortal wound before he can reap the benefits of his conniving, rendering all his efforts for naught. The least morally sound character is therefore unsuccessful in his endeavors and dies at a young age, proving that living a morally un-sound life does little for Edmund. In contrast, Cordelia adheres to the prescribed morality and benevolent behavior. She is the only daughter who does not forsake her father, even though Lear himself admits that Cordelia has “some cause” to wrong him. Cordelia’s character does...
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...madness lies. Let me shun that. No more of that. (III,iv,6-22) An Agonizing Awakening Shakespeare’s stylistic devices convey not only a feeling of dejected despondency and suffocating anguish, but also tempestuous petulance and melancholic despair to illustrate the consequences of a lack of self-awareness and the painful process of enlightenment which follows. In addition, the breaking of the filial bond provides this necessary hardship for Lear which elicits both a feeling of pity for his state of affairs and retribution for the vanity which previously consumed him. However, these feelings eventually morph into a sense of resolution as Lear gains understanding of his past mistakes and displays an unwavering resolve as a result. Consequently, the stylistic devices in this climax serve to demonstrate both the hopelessness of Lear and the comfort which comes through a conformed conscious as the reader witnesses Lear’s complete metamorphosis. The use of diction conveys a feeling of agony delineated through intense imagery as Lear sustains severe torment, demonstrating a resolute resolve in response. Furthering the spiritual battle of the “tempest,” the...
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...G.W. Knight takes a completely different stance on King Lear, referring to the play as a “comedy of the grotesque.” Knight begins Chapter VIII of The Wheel of Fire by describing Shakespeare’s purpose in writing King Lear as a means to blend realism with imagination (160-161). Knight goes on to analyze several elements of the play and explains what makes them comical. Knight starts with King Lear, explaining how asking for love is silly yet part of human nature. In addition, while King Lear’s act of disowning Cordelia is childish, it is also representative of how he was unable to understand his children. These scenes help explain the play’s theme of greatness and immaturity, as King Lear is portrayed with heroic instincts, but no sense...
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...Analysis of King Lear King Lear, by William Shakespeare, is a tragic tale of filial conflict, personal transformation, and loss. The story revolves around the King who foolishly alienates his only truly devoted daughter and realizes too late the true nature of his other two daughters. A major subplot involves the illegitimate son of Gloucester, Edmund, who plans to discredit his brother Edgar and betray his father. With these and other major characters in the play, Shakespeare clearly asserts that human nature is either entirely good, or entirely evil. Some characters experience a transformative phase, where by some trial or ordeal their nature is profoundly changed. We shall examine Shakespeare's stand on human nature in King Lear by looking at specific characters in the play: Cordelia who is wholly good, Edmund who is wholly evil, and Lear whose nature is transformed by the realization of his folly and his descent into madness. The play begins with Lear, an old king ready for retirement, preparing to divide the kingdom among his three daughters. Lear has his daughters compete for their inheritance by judging who can proclaim their love for him in the grandest possible fashion. Cordelia finds that she is unable to show her love with mere words: "Cordelia. [Aside] What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent." Act I, scene i, lines 63-64. Cordelia's nature is such that she is unable to engage in even so forgivable...
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...KING LEAR Act 1-3 Review Act 1, Scene 1 Analysis The first scene sets up the action and the main theme of the play. King Lear has three daughters, and he requires from each a profession of love in exchange for a reward of inheritance. The two daughters who love him least and who are most dishonest easily fulfill his requirements, speaking elegantly but emptily of their great love for him. Lear is pleased with this superficial and deceitful proclamation of love. His honest daughter, Cordelia, will not give Lear a false declaration. She loves him, she says, simply as a father, no more and no less. Her love, unlike her sisters', is a true love, but she is unwilling to exaggerate it in false language. Lear cannot understand this, and he immediately turns on Cordelia, his most beloved daughter, and disowns her. Lear is a flawed character, valuing the external declaration of love over true and proven love. His actions are so unreasonable that the reader may wonder why Cordelia loves him, aside from her duty as his daughter and subject. Act 1, Scene 2 Analysis The second scene reveals the subplot of Edmund's machinations to wheedle his father's lands away from him. As in the story of King Lear and his daughters, Gloucester must decide which of his children is truly loyal to him. The son that seems loyal only appears loyal through his deceit. He lies and manipulates in order to appear loving and loyal. Edgar, the truly loyal son, will appear disloyal through his brother's...
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... Critical Analysis IV Ms. Gill 12/14/12 Madness and Blindness in King Lear King Lear by Shakespeare is a play that has many motifs and ideals that are supported by its characters. One motif that is introduced in the very beginning is the relationship between blindness and madness. Although the development of this relationship can be seen within characters such as Glouchester the Earl, and Goneril and Regan, the king’s daughters, it is best illustrated by the king himself. The relationship between blindness and madness illustrated in King Lear teaches that blindness will lead to madness, and madness will lead to enlightenment. No character in King Lear experiences the effects of this relationship like the main character himself, King Lear. In the very beginning he proposes a question to his daughters that he has no way of knowing the true answer of; in essence he asks his three daughters how much they love him to see who loves him the most. Two of his daughters, Goneril and Regan feed him lies, and basically tell him that they love him more than life itself. King Lear’s third daughter, Cordelia answers truthfully; she tells him that she loves him for giving her life, and as much as a daughter should love her father. Because of the King’s blindness, he is outraged by this response. He fails to see that Goneril and Regan were lying to get ahead while poor Cordelia, who he then banishes, is the one who truly loves him. The king then divides his...
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...Looking at another play, King Lear, we are able to see characters that have very real traits. King Lear himself is a good example of the type of characters Shakespeare creates. Being an old man, King Lear decides to give away his land, splitting it equally between his three daughters. This can be seen as a very wise thing to do, being able to understand that as one becomes older, their time on this earth draws close to ending. Thus, by giving away his land to his daughters, he is setting up the future for them while he still can. However, King Lear doesn’t only have noble traits, as he is also very prideful. He is unable to look past the fact that one of his daughters, Cordelia, doesn’t shower him in praises and extol his virtues like his other two daughters. He sees this as an affront to him and banishes her. Therefore, he sets into motion the chain of events that bring about his downfall. This depth allows people to actually become invested in the characters. The more people that are invested, the more that people that will...
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...Guide Sue Tweg King Lear William Shakespeare contents Character map Overview About the author Synopsis Character summaries iv 1 1 2 4 Background & context Genre, structure & language Scene-by-scene analysis Characters & relationships Themes, ideas & values Different interpretations Questions & answers Sample answer References & reading 6 10 14 24 39 55 59 64 66 iv I ns i g h t T e x t G u i d e ChARACTeR mAp Edgar Legitimate son of Gloucester, disguises himself as ‘Poor Tom’. Leads Gloucester to Dover, fights and kills Edmond, becomes king. Wise fools Companions in storm Kent Truth-teller. Disguises himself as ‘Caius’. Loyal, noble servant to Lear. Offends via discourtesy to Lear Match wits Defends, speaks boldly Defends and helps Teaches patience and saves father’s life Fool Truth-teller; endures the storm. Is possibly hanged. Teaches Lear compassion Cordelia Truth-teller. Youngest daughter, loves Lear and heals him. Loses battle and is hanged in prison. Loves Loves Offers kingdom to Edgar – accepted Gloucester Believes Edmond’s lies about Edgar. Saved from suicide by Edgar after Edmond has cause his blinding by betraying him to Cornwall. Needs Foolish old fathers meet in storm Blinds King Lear Divides his kingdom, rejects Cordelia, rejected by Gonerill and Regan. Goes mad, healed after storm by Cordelia. Dies after Cordelia is hanged. Fails to show Lear how to value Cordelia King of France Sees Cordelia’s...
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...Reason and Self-Knowledge: Cross Species Comparison in King Lear The equivocal distinction between humans and animals captivated early modern thought, permeating works of literature and performance, including Shakespeare’s King Lear. While scholars have explored the connection between early modern views of the species divide and the usage of animal rhetoric in the play, many have neglected Lear’s development, using him only as a gateway for historical discourse. Shakespeare’s use of cross-species analogy provides extensive insight into the evolution of the character’s sanity and his changing understanding of his status as both a king and a human that is necessary for understanding his moral status at the point of his death. Through historical...
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...Brad Frederick Dr. Easterday Literature 210 28 July 2012 The devastating and negative human nature of King Lear In many of Shakespeare's plays, human nature and emotion, specifically of the negative type, are the major contributing factors to the lead character's downfall. In many cases, those qualities cause the downfall of many other character's as well, whether due to their own behavior, or the behavior of other characters. In the play King Lear, negative human behaviors, such as vanity, dishonesty, and a severe lack of loyalty all lead to the demise or downfall of nearly every character in the play. In King Lear, the recurring themes of betrayal and vanity are central parts of the work, used to connect characters and events. The theme of betrayal proves to be very significant in the sense that it ultimately conveys a lesson that those who stay true to their loved ones have the potential to live happily and those who betray will suffer a fate of demise. Shakespeare also uses these lessons in the play as a reflection of the morals of the time period, and the morals of humanity in general. Early in the play, Gloucester is tricked into believing that his legitimate son, Edgar, is slowly plotting to take over his throne by Edmund. In reality, this is all part of Edmund's plot to gain the throne that he believes belongs to him. He perpetuates this by convincing Edgar that his father was furious with him and to keep out of his way. While he thinks he is doing justice...
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...normal rational manner, and to exhibit rational behaviour. In Shakespeare’s play “King Lear” however, it is shown that “sanity” is a relative concept that can vary in meaning. Relating to the outside world, utilizing present issues of many countries, sanity being based on relativity, can be greatly exemplified. By performing an in depth analysis of different perspectives on sanity, it can be revealed who is sane and who is not. In the dramatic play, “King Lear”, King Lear assumes that his own character completely mirrors the quality of sanity. Displaying sane characteristics requires one to be completely assertive of the decisions that one makes personally, Lear’s actions are consciously made by him, and he knows exactly what he wants to say. He decides to divide his own kingdom and properties, and he wishes all three of his daughters to express their love for him. While Goneril and Regan claim their (faux) admiration of their father Lear is tremendous, Cordelia expressed nothing but her own genuine feelings. Unable to either express or translate her feelings into words, Cordelia explains to Lear that she is unable to verbally profess her love. In reply, Lear bursts with cursing prayers, “Let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower. For by the sacred radiance of the sun, The mysteries of Hecate and the night... Here I disclaim all my paternal care... As thou my sometime daughter”. (I, i, 110-120) Lear shows complete disregard for Cordelia’s feelings, and continues expressing his...
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...Character Analysis Lear, the King of Britain, is a powerful and important man. But he's getting near retirement age. Lear thinks he can hand over the hard work of ruling the kingdom to his children and relax. He wants to enjoy the power of still being king without any of the responsibility. That's Lear's first mistake, separating power and responsibility. His two eldest daughters are ready to run their own lives – and their own kingdoms. They resent Lear acting as if he is still in charge. Yet the King is shocked when his daughters assert their independence from him. After all, he gave them everything they have. Lear's second mistake is to exile the people who love him the most. He chooses to stage a "love test" among his three daughters so he can give the biggest slice of the kingdom to the one who loves him most of all. When Cordelia refuses to participate, Lear is so angry that he orders her out of the kingdom. And when his advisor, Kent, warns him that this is a terrible idea, Lear throws him out, too. So Lear has to deal with the power struggle his retirement sparked without two of the people who could have smoothed the transition. (Kent does come back disguised as Caius, a peasant, but this means he only has a peasant's power – enough to take care of Lear, but not enough to soothe his political worries.) Lear realizes his stupidity soon enough. His retirement starts a series of conflicts that lead the whole country to civil war. Two of Lear's own children turn...
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...Jasmine Pagan Dr. Amy C. Reeves Survey of World Literature February 7, 2013 Paper #1 I am writing a paper on King Lear, focusing on the main reason for his “fall” in the play. King Lear falls for power, so what is the reason for it? Does Lear end up deserving his fate? Or is he just blind to what is going on around him? Lear was a high respected aging king of British. He had three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Codelia, who he is dividing the kingdom into before he passes. Before he does so, he wanted to put in daughters through a test. He wants to know how much his daughters love him the most and which one would be great to take his place when the time comes. So he asks all his daughters how much they love him. Both Goneril and Regan, (which are his older daughters) lie to him. They tell King Lear that they love him more than anything and that they would be great to take over the kingdom in due time. He waits to hear from his youngest daughter, Cordelia (which is his favorite daughter), she is quiet at first then tells him she loves him like a regular daughter should love her father. “Nothing more; nothing less” she says. At that point King Lear becomes very angry, disappointed and immediately disowns Cordelia at sight because she did not say what Lear expected to hear from her. Deep down, King Lear was crushed and upset. He loved Cordelia very much, that was his favorite daughter out of them all. So when she told him that she loved him regular, at that moment...
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...The Madness of King Lear Madness is a key theme throughout King Lear and has, therefore, been the subject of much debate by scholars and critics throughout the centuries. Samantha MarkhamSamantha Markham Samantha Markham is a professional freelance writer with a particular passion for literary and theatrical subjects. Ludwig Devrient as King Lear (1769)Written between 1603 and 1606, King Learis one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated tragedies. The story is based on the legend of King Leir of Britain in which a king divides his kingdom. However, Shakespeare’s interpretation of the legend is much darker than the original and is filled with deceit, death and madness. Much debate surrounding King Lear’s madness concentrates on possible early manifestations of it and its causes. While some assert that King Lear displays early signs of insanity from the commencement of the play, others believe that it is his anger and lust for revenge that drive him to madness. King Lear’s Madness in the First Scene The opening scene of King Lear is a fascinating exploration of flattery, self-love and the relationship between father and daughters. It seems absurd that a king would divide his kingdom according to professions of love, but it is worth considering that a long reigning king is accustomed to exercising irresponsible power. However, the problem with chalking the opening scene up to an old king’s desire to be flattered is that the kingdom has already been divided. Gloucester tells...
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...English 3 Group AA Due: 04 October 2013 Monday 09:35 Dr. D. Seddon Early Modern Literature Discuss in detail two different performances of King Lear on stage, film or TV. Your discussion should include an assessment of the relative merits of the directorial decisions as regards characterization, setting, costume, and dialogue. The only way of expressing emotion in the form of art is by finding an 'objective correlative'; in other words, a set of objects, a situation, a chain of events which shall be the formula of that particular emotion; such that when the external facts, which must terminate in sensory experience, are given, the emotion is immediately evoked. (Eliot, 1919) William Shakespeare’s King Lear is considered by many to be one of his most powerful pieces. Its universal themes and messages that seep through have inspired many other works and allowed room for several adaptations. In his influential critical essay on Hamlet, T.S. Eliot suggests that one could “examine any of Shakespeare’s more successful tragedies…” and always “… find this exact equivalence” (1919). His term ‘objective correlative’ encompasses the phenomena of emotional reaction being created in the audience by the writer or poet or playwrights combination of images, objects or description which evoke the...
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