Betrayal in William Shakespeare's King Lear

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Betrayal in William Shakespeare's King Lear

A kingdom without order is a kingdom in chaos (Bradley). William

ShakespeareÂ’s play King Lear is a play full of deception, betrayal,

and insincere promises. ItÂ’s a tragic play that demonstrates what

happens when children are concealed by greed and loose their love and

respect for their parents. Goneril, Regan, and Edmund declare their

affection to their loved ones for their ambition for power and to

raise there status in Britain. After they get what they want they

reveal their heartless characters by disowning their loved ones. Regan

and Goneril trick their father, King Lear, into believing that they

love him all for the passion for power. Edmund too, tricks his father,

Gloucester, and his brother, Edgar, into thinking he is a loving loyal

son and brother all for the obsession over the title of Earl of

Gloucester. In ShakespeareÂ’s play King Lear, the declarations of love

are many, but only as the means for something in return, and thus

those who trust these declarations are betrayed.

The declarations of love made by Goneril, Regan, and Edmund in King

Lear are related to whatever material gain they can accomplish. Nature

never deceives us; it is always we who deceive ourselves (Trust,

Deception, Betrayal). King LearÂ’s tragic flaw is the division of his

kingdom and his inability to see the true natures of people because of

his pride. When King Lear asks his daughters to publicly declare their

love for him, Goneril says: “Sir, I love you more than word can wield

the matter/ Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty/ Beyond what can

be valued, rich or rareÂ…Beyond all manner of so much I ...

... middle of paper ...

.... To hide their true ravenousness, Regan

and Goneril deceit their father by making him believe that they love

him. Being the bastard son, Edmund was deprived of respect and rank

that he thought was rightfully his. He too wins his fathersÂ’ and

brothersÂ’ trust and then destroys them.

This proves that betrayal can only happen if you love (Trust,

Deception, Betrayal). Betrayal is motivated by ambition and greed

which all these characters had. Ambition, greed, and deception all

lead to one culmination ending, death.

Bibliography

Bradley, A.C. Shakespearean Tragedy. London: MacMillan, 1905.

Shakespeare, William. King Lear. New York, New York: Washington Square

Press, 1993.

“Trust, Deception, Betrayal.” Resources- Quotes Library.

(27 March 03).

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