...William Shakespeare’s King Lear and Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex are two classic pieces of literature that are worth studying. This essay will discuss how free will and destiny function in the two plays. First, the plays will be introduced and analyzed separately to provide a basis for contrast and comparison. Once the foundation is established, more advanced ideas will be discussed, such as the concept of evil and literal and figurative sight. Oedipus Rex will be discussed first. The role of destiny is very obvious is this play. The plot is built around destiny; when Oedipus hears that his destiny is to murder his father and marry his mother, he sets out to confirm this prediction and then prevent it. In his attempt to avoid his fate, he unwittingly commits the very acts that were predicted. The actual logistics of the offense are quite impressive. Both Oedipus and his parents work independently of each other to avoid the outcome, and their actions tragically work together to make it possible. The reader is slapped in the face with the core of the theme, which is that the fate of man is inevitable. Since Oedipus was fated to commit these crimes, he cannot do otherwise. The role of fate and free will is much more complex in Shakespeare’s King Lear. A quick perusal of the plot gives a story of good and evil characters exercising their own free wills. King Lear foolishly divides up his kingdom to his two deceitful, older daughters and ignores Cordelia, his honest, dutiful...
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...William Shakespeare’s King Lear and Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex are two classic pieces of literature that are worth studying. This essay will discuss how free will and destiny function in the two plays. First, the plays will be introduced and analyzed separately to provide a basis for contrast and comparison. Once the foundation is established, more advanced ideas will be discussed, such as the concept of evil and literal and figurative sight. Oedipus Rex will be discussed first. The role of destiny is very obvious is this play. The plot is built around destiny; when Oedipus hears that his destiny is to murder his father and marry his mother, he sets out to confirm this prediction and then prevent it. In his attempt to avoid his fate, he unwittingly commits the very acts that were predicted. The actual logistics of the offense are quite impressive. Both Oedipus and his parents work independently of each other to avoid the outcome, and their actions tragically work together to make it possible. The reader is slapped in the face with the core of the theme, which is that the fate of man is inevitable. Since Oedipus was fated to commit these crimes, he cannot do otherwise. The role of fate and free will is much more complex in Shakespeare’s King Lear. A quick perusal of the plot gives a story of good and evil characters exercising their own free wills. King Lear foolishly divides up his kingdom to his two deceitful, older daughters and ignores Cordelia, his honest, dutiful...
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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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...How does Shakespeare explore the theme of ‘Justice’ in King Lear? It is often assumed that the role of ‘Justice’ within a play is to serve as the source of goodness and anti-thesis of suffering, however in ‘King Lear’ Shakespeare utilises the theme of Justice to portray powerful messages, providing not just a contrast to the deterioration within the play but an explanation for the anguish witnessed. The notion of ‘Poetic Justice’ or deserved retribution is arguably denied by Shakespeare in ‘King Lear’, revealing the dangers of ‘unnatural evils’ and their far reaching consequences through its absence. The uncomfortable dramatic irony throughout Gloucester’s journey to his attempted suicide as he calls out for his ‘dear son Edgar,’ unaware that he stands before him, leaves the audience desiring union and peace for the victim of a horribly vivid crime. Despite this, resolution is never achieved, the eventual union causes only further death and is reported alongside Edgars regret, ‘’Never - O fault - revealed myself’, and bitter comments about Gloucester's ‘flawed heart’. As a result Shakespeare builds pity for the character of Gloucester to an unbearable level, denies the audience an opportunity for ‘catharsis’ and hence Gloucester's fate feels poetically unjust. In a society that saw suicide as a deadly sin, synonymous with questioning God’s wisdom and an ingratitude for the sacrifice of Christ, the real significance of Gloucester’s hopeless situation lies in it serving as...
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...“The family is a natural hierarchy, and the father possesses rightful authority. The violation of this order in King Lear leads to tyranny, cruelty and moral chaos In the light of the above comment, discuss Shakespeare’s presentation of family in King Lear? According to the 2011 census in the UK, the stereotypical image of a family being a mother, father with two children- often one boy, one girl- living in a semi-detached or detached house is fast “becoming a myth”. Today’s census is expected to affirm the fact that there is a larger proportion of families with single mothers or fathers, and adults still living in the house with their parents. This real-life exemplar degradation of the family ethos resonates within King Lear as Lear almost intentionally disrupts his family community through his power-play and expressions of favouritism, essentially cutting himself off from communication with his three daughters as they all develop spiteful distaste for his actions. The ‘rightful authority’ which Lear certainly possesses in the first instances of the play is ironically reversed as his three daughters adopt the power and authority he abandoned when he stepped down from his position as monarch. The violation of this order in King Lear does indeed lead to tyranny, cruelty and moral chaos as a bitter power struggle ensues. On the other hand, however, the family being a ‘natural hierarchy’ is questionable as- especially in a monarchical family- whoever is heir to the throne, or the...
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...Transformation The Transformation of King Lear Like all other plays, throughout the tragedy of King Lear, written by William Shakespeare – many of the characters undergo changes that help the plot to progress. The transformations of King Lear’s character are one of the driving forces behind the play, and help the plot to develop. The audience may notice how Lear’s sanity, thought processes and physical status changes his character transforms. Throughout the tragedy, King Lear goes from having a complex social identity and status to becoming just another peasant. Throughout the play King Lear, there are many actions and events that take place that cause a change in his character. When King Lear chooses to resign from the kingdom, giving his power to his daughters- he disturbs the great chain of being. Giving up his kingdom by choice as opposed to death was not common or agreed upon during that time. Therefore, by taking such a risky action in doing so, the audience is aware that his character will go through many changes. King Lear goes from being the king and the patriarch of the family to becoming another peasant who is under the rule of these daughters. However, by doing so – the king expects to keep the privileges of being king without having to do the work. Lear goes from having a very high social identity, to being under the rule of his daughters which does not sit well with him. The audience learns about how his power is stripped away little by little, and...
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...A Thousand Acres and King Lear: A New Twist When Jane Smiley wrote A Thousand Acres, she consciously made the story parallel to Shakespeare's King Lear for several reasons. The novel's characters and basic storyline are almost direct parallels to King Lear, but Smiley's dissatisfaction with the traditional interpretation of King Lear is showcased in her modern day version (Berne 236). The story of the Cook family is almost a carbon copy of the saga of Lear's family. The ruler, or father, possesses so much power that he is driven to insanity. Both divide up their kingdoms and land, giving the largest portion to the most "loving" daughter: "In spite of that inner clang, I tried to sound agreeable. 'It's a good idea.' Rose said, 'It's a great idea.' Caroline said, 'I don't know.'" (Smiley 19). In each family, one daughter, the youngest, rebels against her father's wishes and is not given any land. Shortly after giving up his power, the father realizes that he is nothing without it and appears to be slowly becoming insane. In both instances, the father, in a crazed moment, wanders off and puts himself in a life-threatening situation. In the end the youngest daughter comes to the fathers' rescue. With so many basic plot similarities, Smiley manages to convey a new take on an old-fashioned story. At the end of King Lear, Lear traditionally is believed to be a changed man. Smiley doesn't buy into this common belief; therefore Larry Cook remains a static character...
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...King Lear Research Paper Shakespeare’s play, King Lear, characterizes the archetypes ‘good’ and ‘evil’ as good being loyal and bad being disloyal. In all Shakespearean tragedies, there is a series of events with a common theme that lead to the chaos of the plot: here, the theme is fidelity versus infidelity (Bonheim 39). King Lear highlights this theme mainly through familial and hierarchical relationships. The tragedy’s large cast of characters is divided into the archetypal categories of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, which are essentially determined by their faithful or unfaithful actions towards their family and kingdom. In their somewhat parallel lives, King Lear and Gloucester are driven to despair and madness by their familial relationships. Sibling rivalry, betrayal of fathers by daughters and by son and rash misunderstandings of a loyal son and a dutiful daughter, are the roots of chaos in the play (Bloom 15). King Lear and Gloucester’s downfalls are essentially caused by the ‘bad’ child’s betrayal and later resolved by the ‘good’ child’s help and support. Shakespeare introduced Cordelia as caring and loyal daughter, who is profoundly devoted to family (Bonheim 41). When it is her turn to publically confess her love for Lear, she explains in her own defense: “Why have my sisters husbands, if they say They love you all? Haply when I shall wed, That lord whose had must take my plight shall carry Half my love with him, half my care and duty. Sure I shall never marry like...
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...KING LEAR Act One The play opens at Lear’s court, where we meet the main characters. The opening scene is in itself shocking, as Lear forces his daughters to declare their love for him. The one who loves him the most will receive the largest part of his kingdom, which he intends to divide between the three. Lear himself wishes to hand over the ruling of the kingdom to his daughters, while retaining the ‘Pre-eminence, and all the large effects / That troop with majesty’ (Scene 1, Lines 131-2). Goneril and Regan acquit themselves well at this love test. Cordelia, however, dismayed by her sisters’ ponderous words, refuses to take part in the ‘contest’ and tells Lear that she loves him as her duty instructs her. When Cordelia refuses to speak again, Lear casts her off without a moment’s hesitation. Ken attempts to argue with the King, accusing him of ‘hideous rashness’ (Scene 1, Line 151). When Kent further warns Lear that his elder daughters are false flatterers, Kent too is banished. Lear invests Albany and Cornwall with power, and, after Burgundy refuses to take Cordelia as his wife, now that she is without dowry, France takes her for her virtues alone. Goneril and Regan complain, in private, about Lear’s harsh judgement and unpredictable behaviour and worry that they too may be treated unfairly. Edmund, Gloucester’s bastard son, soliloquises about his own situation, revealing his devious intentions towards his brother. When his father enters, Edmund’s...
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...Title: The Tragedy of King Lear Author: William Shakespeare DOP: 1606 Genre: Shakespearean tragedy Writing Style: Play Setting: King Lear's castle in Albion England. Goneril's home. Gloucester's castle. The Cliffs of Dover Plot: Act I. Shakespeare's dark tragedy, King Lear begins with the fictional King of England, King Lear, handing over his kingdom to daughters Regan and Goneril whom he believes truly love him. King Lear intends to stay with each daughter consecutively, accompanied by one hundred loyal knights. Angry that Cordelia his youngest daughter does not appear to love him as do Goneril and Regan, Lear banishes his youngest daughter Cordelia, and Kent, the servant who attempts to defend her. Cordelia leaves and is taken by the King of France as his Queen. Edmund, the loved but illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester plots to have his elder brother Edgar's reputation ruined. Edmund tricks his father Gloucester into believing that Edgar wanted to kill him. The disrespectful Goneril conspires to have her guest and father, King Lear, driven out of her house. Kent, who has now disguised his identity to serve King Lear, earns King Lear's respect by defending his name. Goneril offends King Lear and dismisses fifty of his knights. Lear starts to realize Cordelia was not so disrespecting. Lear decides to leave for Regan where he is sure to be treated properly. Lear instructs Kent to deliver several letters to Gloucester. The Fool teaches Lear several riddles. Act II....
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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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...The twentieth century saw a number of diverse and rich readings of the play emerge as a result of the turbulent social changes of the century. A. C. Bradley saw this play as an individual coming to terms with his personality; that Lear was a great man and therefore the play is almost unfathomable. A feminist reading of the play reveals a number of Lear's misogynist remarks and has fueled the debate over whether the play's chaos occurred because power was given over to women, with order restored only when men were returned to their leadership roles. King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606, and is considered one of his greatest works. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological pre-Roman king. It has been widely adapted for stage and screen, with the part of Lear being played by many of the world's most accomplished actors. King Lear is one of the Shakespear’s achievement talked about a family with three daughters and the father. Father really loved his children however he loved the youngest one the most. In contrast, he got disappointed from the one whom he loved the most because she did not mention how much she loved him back. During his furiousity, he did a judgment about those three daughters. He considered the other two is better so he would love those much more and gave the heritages to those two. His decision was totally wrong because he did not get what he expected to get back. ...
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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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...thing simple and not have too much going on to where the viewer is easily getting distracted by others things happening within the video. While King Lear has some pretty gruesome events we found a way to keep things PG, so that viewers could understand what was going on but didn’t necessarily have to witness the goriness of the scenes, that are not appropriate for younger viewers. One of the artistic choices that we made while creating this video is the way we presented characters in the video, almost all of the character had some expression on their face, where you could tell what their motive was in the plot of the story, once again simplifying the plot for younger viewers. Another...
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...between humans. One of the strongest relationships that develop over time is the parent-child relationship. The bond between these two sets of people is so powerful and is rarely broken. Both people have duties and responsibilities that they carry out to help develop and nurture their relationship. In Shakespeare’s King Lear, he uses the family dynamic to analyze the relationship between King Lear and his two daughters, Regan and Goneril, to see if this bond exists. In a loving relationship, children respect and honor what their parents do for them. Shakespeare emphasizes on the compassion, blindness, betrayal and insanity that is present throughout the play. In every relationship there is always going to be a line of reasoning when both people do not see eye to eye on the same thing. However, there should always be someone in that relationship that shows the kindness and willingness to forgive. This is an act of compassion. When King Lear travels to Regan’s castle to live with her, he begins to realize that his two daughters are joining forces and inform him that they will not allow him to stay with each other unless he dismisses all of his attendants. When King Lear hears this, it Van Drine 2 disappoints him, “O, Reason not the need! Our basset beggars/Are in the poorest thing superfluous/Allow...
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