Free King Lear Essays: The Evil Man in a Good World

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King Lear: Evil Man in a Good World

In the King Lear play, Shakespeare creates many conditions in which humans live in the world. The main characters in the play are used to portray Shakespeare's ideas. One of these ideas, which Shakespeare is trying to portray, is evil between the characters and in the world, which are emphasized throughout the play. The evil, created by humans, is outweighed by good in the world of King Lear.

Evil was created by humans who decided to do wrong to others. Duke of Albany, said that all evil people will be justly punished (ACT V, iii, 303). Albany indicated that it is the people who caused evil and people decided to do evil, not gods. Lear believes that since Edgar is out on the heath he must have given everything to his daughters as well (ACT III, iv, 62ff). Since he believes that Edgar gave everything to evil Lear must believe that people are the cause of evil. It was Lear's daughters who decided to do wrong to Lear and it was Lear's fault in giving away all of his land. His daughters are the humans in the play, it is the humans who caused the evil and Lear believes that humans were the ones who created evil. Edgar, is another character in the play who believes that evil is caused by humans and not the gods. Edgar said, "The gods are just, and of our peasant vices make instruments to plague us" (ACT V, iii, 169). Edgar clearly says that the gods are right and it is the people who are responsible for promoting evil in the world. It is us who make the instruments necessary for evil to spread and plague the world. In the world of King Lear many characters believe evil was caused by the people and not by the gods.

Even though Humans created evil, good will always exist. After King Lear was captured he showed that even if evil exists, good will always be present. Lear speaks about love with Cordelia in the prison cell and how they will still have each other despite of the evil around them (ACT V, iii, 8). On another occasion Lear also says that despite all the evil in the world the raw nature, which is good, is still unharmed (ACT IV, IV, 90-92).

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