Humanity In Shakespeare's King Lear

William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of King Lear offers a hopeful view of humanity in which justice prevails; the people who sinned, including Edmund and Lear, encounter the punishment of the gods, but the virtuous characters, Edgar and Cordelia, are rewarded for pursuing the good by avoiding the punishment of the gods. Edmund possesses a damaged and villainous soul, which is justified by his death. His reputation angers him. In Act One, Edmund repeats “Base?”(1.2.10) when referring to himself. He questions whether he is truly the base or inferior to others. Edmund’s questions cause a break in iambic pentameter that is otherwise constant throughout the play. This change in structure indicates Edmund’s urgency and plea for help as he attempts

Edgar reveals himself as the wholesome brother through his reference to the Ten Commandments and expressing his concern for others. When he speaks, most of his words are of positive connotation in attempts to benefit others. He believes that “the gods are just” (5.3.172) and “Ripeness is all”(5.2.11). His apparent trust and peace that the gods will decide when a person is ready for death provides encouragement to the audience. Unlike Edmund, Edgar does not reflect on his legitimacy or concerns to his benefit. Instead, he ‘ripens’ and becomes more mature by expressing concern, care, and love for others. He becomes self-actualized with this realization that the divine have a plan. Overall, Edgar’s humility and care for his father as well as the belief that the gods will reward the righteous offer a hope for

Lear’s faults lead to disorder and chaos. He searches for flattery, eventually realizing that he has lost his power and status in society. The pinnacles of both Lear and Edmund’s suffering result in a shift in the play’s structure., Lear yells “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks. Rage, blow!”(3.2.1) during the storm. The structure of this line is altered to trochaic pentameter to emphasize the cataclysmic flood and that he is no longer treated as the king. Lear is left at the mercy of others. He must realize that he does not possess any power. This altered structure imitates the altered state of Lear and of nature. Everyone turns on Lear because of his limited conception of man. Similar to Edmund, Lear now ranks lower in importance in society. Lear receives punished through suffering, yet when Lear realizes the good of Cordelia, she is taken away from him. Lear’s suffering allows him to empathize with and value those who suffer. Although Lear learns his moral lesson and repents, he receives the eternal punishment of the death of his beloved, humble