King Lear (1352 words)

King LearKing Lear
King Lear is a play written by William
Shakespeare that focuses on the relationships of many characters, some
good, some evil. This is a great tragedy that is full of injustice at the
beginning and the restoring of justice towards the end. The good are misjudged
as evil and the evil are accepted as good. It is not until the end of the
play that the righteous people are recognized as such. There is great treachery
and deceit involved in the hierarchy of English rule. The great mistake
in this play was made by Lear when he decided to divide up his kingdom
to his three daughters. In order to determine which share each should get,
he had each of his daughters give testimonies of love for him. Cordelia,
the youngest, refused to go overboard with her statement. When asked for
her testimony, she simply replied, “Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my
heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty according to my bond, no more
no less.”(I,i, ln 91-93) Lear becomes enraged and casts her off saying,
“Here I disclaim all my paternal care, propinquity and property of blood,
and as a stranger to my heart and me hold this from thee for ever.”(I,i,
ln 113-116). Some think that Cordelia was prideful, or even a fool in her
response, but I believe she was simply being honest and true.

Another mistake that was made in the course
of the play was by the Earl of Gloucester. After being tricked by his bastard
son, Edmund, into believing that his other son, Edgar, was plotting to
kill him, he put all his faith in Edmund, which would eventually lead to
his demise. Besides believing that Cordelia was being true and honest to
her father, I think that Lear and the Earl of Gloucester were fools, regarding
the banishments of their righteous children.

After reading this play, I found it hard
to believe that Cordelia was being anything but true in her simple proclamation
of love for her father. I can’t believe that Shakespeare was trying to
portray her as a spoiled, prideful child. I do not believe she was foolish
in her decision to restrain from trying to persuade him into giving her
a larger portion of his kingdom. I think it was apparent early that Cordelia
was struggling with what she was going to say to her father. In her asides
she says, “What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent”(I,i, ln 62),
and after Regan spoke, “Then poor Cordelia; And yet not so, since I am
sure my love’s more ponderous than my tongue.”(I,i, ln 76-78). It is obvious
that she loves her father, but she can’t express it the way in which Lear
wants her to. Because of this, she is disowned and sent away to France.

The King even refers to her as, “Unfriended, new adopted to our hate, dow’red
with our curse, and strangered with our oath.”(I,i, ln 203-204). Cordelia’s
love for her father was shown further when she received the letters concerning
Lear’s mental state after being mistreated by his two other daughters.

It was said that, “now and then an ample tear trilled down her delicate
cheek.”(IV,iii, ln 12-13). Cordelia then orders for some of the French
soldiers to bring Lear to her so that she can look after him before the
war between Britain and the French soldiers begins. Her love was further
displayed when she says, “But love, dear love, and our aged father’s right.

Soon may I hear and see him!”(IV,iv, ln 28-29). Because of all of this,
I firmly believe that Cordelia truly loved her father and was only being
honest when she refused to profess her love for him in order to rule a
portion of Britain.

Besides believing that Cordelia was true
in her response, I also think that Lear was acting as a fool when he disowned
his only loving daughter. He made a monumental mistake when he handed over
British rule to his two evil daughters, Regan and Goneril. This is what
eventually led to his mental breakdown and the deaths of many of the heads
of Britain. If he had only chose to keep control over his kingdom or to
give up control to someone trustworthy, no one would have had to suffer
as they did. Some people knew he was committing a terrible folly, especially
the Earl of Kent. This is apparent when he says, “Think’st thou that duty
shall have dread to speak when power to flattery bows? To plainness honor’s
bound when majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state, and in thy best consideration
check this hideous rashness.(I,i, ln 147-151). Lear ignores this plea and
even banishes Kent, who returns later, disguised as a servant. Another
person to recognize his mistake is the fool. In one of his rhymes, he says,
“That lord that counselled thee to give away thy land, come place him here
by me – Do thou for him stand. The sweet and bitter fool will presently
appear; the one in motley here, the other found out there.(I,iv, ln 133-140).

After giving all his power to Regan and Goneril, they reject him, kicking
him out of their houses. This treatment of Lear drives him mad and he wishes
that he had never given away his power or disowned Cordelia. This can be
seen when he states, “No, you unnatural hags! I will have such revenges
on you both that all the world shall-I will do such things-What they are,
yet I know not; but they shall be the terrors of the earth.(II,iv, ln 273-277).

It would take an entire book to explain all the ramifications of his great
folly. However, I can say that the deaths of Goneril, Regan, Cordelia,
and of himself may be attributed to his mistake. He also caused a war between
Britain and France that should not have occurred. I believe it is clear
that Lear acted as a fool when giving his land to Goneril and Regan, but
not to Cordelia.

Another character who was very foolish
in distinguishing between good and bad children was the Earl of Gloucester.

Edmund, a bastard son of Gloucester, tricked him into believing that his
brother, Edgar wanted to kill him and take his inheritance. He wrote a
phony letter which implied all of this. Gloucester became outraged and
gave all his trust to Edmund. He even declares, “O villain, villain! His
very opinion in the letter. Abhorred villain, unnatural, detested, brutish
villain.”(I,ii, ln 74-76). Edgar then convinces Edgar that he should flee
because his life is in danger. He also believes Edmund, so he leaves his
home and ends up hiding in a cave. Gloucester again takes Edmund completely
into his confidence when he informs him that he was going to try and help
Lear when he was out in a storm, even though he was given strict orders
by Regan and the Duke of Cornwall. Edgar immediately tells Cornwall of
the information he has just learned. He says to himself, “This courtesy
forbid thee shall the Duke instantly know, and of that letter too. This
seems a fair deserving, and must draw me that which my father loses-no
less than all. The younger rises when the old doth fall.”(III,iii, ln 19-23).

This treachery by Edmund ultimately leads to Gloucester having his eyes
gauged out. Despite the efforts of Edgar to take care of him and restore
his desire to live, Gloucester dies of a broken heart. Edgar explains,
“His flawed heart – Alack, too weak the conflict to support – twixt two
extremes of passion, joy and grief, burst smilingly.(V,iii, ln 197-200).

Edgar ends up killing Edmund, which means that Gloucester’s folly resulted
in the deaths of both he and Edmund. It is very clear that the Earl of
Gloucester can be considered a fool for taking Edmund into his confidence.

Overall, this play was full of evil and
treachery. However, justice seemed to be served somewhat at the end. I
do believe that Cordelia was very good-natured and was the only “true”
daughter of King Lear. In a play full of evil people, she was one of the
only honest and loving. It is amazing that only through great hardships,
such as Gloucester having his eyes plucked out, could he and Lear receive
true insight.