Justified tradgedy
analytical Essay
1076 words
In King Lear by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare recounts the tragedy of King Lear as he fails to acknowledge his tragic flaw and thus falls into tragedy and unintentionally brings others with him. Throughout the play, tragedy befalls undeserving people and they suffer greatly even though they have not done anything to deserve their suffering. Although Gloucester, Edgar, and Cordelia all live happy lives at the beginning of the play, they experience great suffering despite their inner goodness, a fact that highlights Shakespeare’s belief about the blindness of a justice that does not necessarily strike only the wicked.
Throughout the play, the good-hearted Earl of Gloucester suffers at the hands of his illegitimate child Edmund and the king’s evil daughters Goneril and Regan. Gloucester loves his son Edgar and has given him land as a result. Edmund wishes to take these lands from his brother but in order to do so he must make Edgar fall from his father’s good graces. Edmund hatches a plan and says, “A credulous father and a brother noble/ Whose nature is so far from doing harms/That he suspects none” (1.2.187-189). Edmund quickly and cleverly begins to place doubt in his father’s mind about Edgar and soon manages to falsely convince his trusting father that Edgar wants to kill him. By falsely believing his son Edmund, Gloucester believes his actions to bring Edgar to “justice” are appropriate and sends (search patrols to find his son in) order to do so. Gloucester also defends and helps King Lear although his two evil daughters told him not too. Gloucester cannot bear to see King Lear in such a miserable state and goes against his daughters’ wishes when he says, “I would not see thy cruel nails/ Pluck out his ...
... middle of paper ...
... to lower herself to her sisters standards as they exaggerated their love for their father in order to receive more land. In the end, Cordelia receives in just justice for trying to do the right thing throughout the play.
Throughout the play, Gloucester, Edgar and Cordelia all falsely receive justice even though they have benevolent hearts and never did anything to deserve the punishments they receive. Justice seems to strike the good more than the wicked in the play which helps show the blindness of justice. Justice has a negative connotation throughout the play which helps show Shakespeare’s disbelief in true “justice”. Justice seems to pick out its victims randomly and without sense showing Shakespeare’s belief that justice does not exist. Overall, the unfairness of the just suffering because of justice proves that true justice does not exist in society.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare recounts the tragedy of king lear as he fails to acknowledge his tragic flaw and thus falls into tragedy and unintentionally brings others with him.
- Analyzes how the good-hearted earl of gloucester suffers at the hands of his illegitimate child edmund and the king’s evil daughters goneril and regan.
- Analyzes how edgar, the legitimate son of gloucester, lives a happy life but quickly receives justice from the hands of his father even though he trusted his brother.
- Analyzes how king lear decides to divide his kingdom and give his daughters their share in order to decide how much land to give them.
- Analyzes how king lear's mistake in making cordelia suffer unnecessarily and laments his actions. even though she forgives her father, she suffers until the very end.
- Analyzes how justice strikes the good more than the wicked in the play which helps show shakespeare's disbelief in true justice.
Related
- analytical
- Tragic Figures in King Lear by William Shakespeareanalytical essayKing Lear, by William Shakespeare, is a tragic tale of filial conflict, personal transformation, and loss. The story revolves around the King who foolishly alienates his only truly devoted daughter and realizes too late the true nature of his other two daughters. A major subplot involves the illegitimate son of Gloucester, Edmund, who plans to discredit his brother Edgar and betray their father. With these and other major characters in the play, Shakespeare clearly asserts that human nature is either entirely good, or entirely evil. Some characters experience a transformative phase, where, by some trial or ordeal, their nature is profoundly changed. We shall examine Shakespeare's stand on human nature in King Lear by looking at specific characters in the play, Cordelia who is wholly good, Edmund who is wholly evil, and Lear whose nature is transformed by the realization of his folly and his descent into madness.
In this essay, the author
- Explains campbell, lily b. shakespeare's tragic heroes, slaves of passion.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's king lear is a tragic tale of filial conflict, personal transformation, and loss.
- Analyzes how shakespeare crafted cordelia as a character whose nature is good, unblemished by any trace of evil throughout the play.
- Analyzes how shakespeare has transformed lear from a vengeful old king into an almost grandfatherly, loving figure.
- Explains that shakespearean tragedies: lectures on hamlet, othello, king lear, macbeth.
1336 wordsRead More - An Analysis Of Divine Justice In King Learanalytical essayThere is an aspect of action and punishment within the plot of King Lear. Characters who look for external control may attribute their punishment to the work of Divine Justice. The tragic fates of the “just” characters in King Lear show that fatal power comes from human choice, not Divine Justice.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how gloucester struggles between his legitimate son edgar and his illegitimate son edmund. gloucester's blinding serves as punishment for his infidelity that led to edmund’s birth.
- Analyzes how gloucester's death is a result of shock after he finds that his banished son, edgar, was the man who had cared for him.
- Analyzes how lear's suffering stems from his rash haste, his violent impetuosity, and his blindness to everything but the dictates of his passions.
- Analyzes how king lear shows the success of the wicked characters in either avoiding death or receiving death at the time and manner in which they wish.
- Analyzes the concept of divine justice in king lear. the tragic fates of the "just" characters show that fatal power comes from human choice.
- Analyzes how cordelia's death is a direct reflection of society divided between extremes of power and the impossibility of real justice and security.
1655 wordsRead More - King Lear Forgiveness Essayanalytical essayWilliam Shakespeare’s infamous Tragedy of King Lear is as much about political authority as family dynamic. Although regarded as one of the most emotionally difficult, and portrays a world lacking of love, in which humanity is detached from any spiritual, higher being, there is still glimmers of goodness that can be discovered. While other discussions of King Lear focus on the bleakness and despair of the environment as well as the characters, especially Lear, it is arguable that this play is not an exemplification of a work lacking in morals, but of the reenchantment of charity, especially forgiveness as a pushback against the violence. Through this reading, a considerable amount of credit is given to Cordelia, and the powerful emotional impact she provides.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare's infamous tragedy of king lear is as much about political authority as family dynamic.
- Analyzes how the setting of king lear is one spoiled with materialism, and is portrayed clearly within the first scene.
- Analyzes how king lear revolves around nature, the supernatural in relation to the characters and their fate, and what their society deems unnatural.
- Analyzes how lear addresses nature as a goddess, wishing sterility for his one favorited daughter. he asks supernatural forces to prevent her from childbirth, an important aspect of society's construction of womanhood.
- Analyzes how lear and gloucester are conservative, especially as fathers, and judge their politics and relationships solely on morality. they misidentify the children out for their demise and betray another.
- Analyzes how john hughes' explanation of the politics of forgiveness in king lear construes the social realm as something given, fixed, and unchangeable, rather than something fluid, constantly open to being reconstituted.
- Analyzes how edgar believes the working of the universe to be just, throughout the story's despair. edmund, goneril, and regan are associated with wild, animal imagery.
780 wordsRead More - King Lear's Self Discoveryanalytical essayAlthough King Lear is an estimable monarch, as revealed by the devotion of men such as Kent, he has serious character flaws. His power as king has encouraged him to be proud and impulsive, and his oldest daughters Regan and Goneril reflect that "The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash..." and that "he hath ever but slenderly known himself" (1.1.297-298, 295-296). When Lear decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, Cordelia, Goneril, and Regan in order to have less responsibility in his old age, he creates a situation in which his eldest daughters gain authority over him and mistreat him. Lear is unable to cope with his loss of power and descends into madness. While the circumstances in which Lear finds himself are instrumental in the unfolding of this tragedy, it is ultimately not the circumstances themselves, but King Lear's rash reactions to them that lead to his downfall. In this downfall, Lear is forced to come to terms with himself as a mortal man.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how king lear is an estimable monarch, but he has serious character flaws. he divides his kingdom between his three daughters, cordelia, goneril, and regan to have less responsibility in his old age.
- Analyzes how lear's self-destruction begins when he commands his daughters to profess their love for him. cordelia, his youngest and most favored daughter, idealistically believes that words are unnecessary in the expression of love.
- Analyzes how lear is too stubborn to admit that he might have used poor judgment in giving power to his eldest daughters. cordelia implores the king to see why she was unable to express her love.
- Analyzes how lear shows he is not ready to give up the trappings of his royalty. while cordelia would have tolerated her father's inconsistencies, her sisters are less forgiving.
- Analyzes how lear creates his own downfall when regan joins forces with goneril to deprive him of the royal accouterments that he loves.
- Analyzes how lear's impulsive decisions accentuate the internal chaos within his mind as he faces the results of his madness.
- Analyzes how king lear becomes less a self-centered character in the play. he shows concern for the well-being of the fool and the disguised kent.
- Analyzes how lear does not come to a full understanding of himself as an individual in the heath scene because he is still unable to view himself at fault for his situation.
- Analyzes how lear's self-transformation and relinquishment of his pride takes place when he is reunited with cordelia.
- Analyzes how the duke of albany reinstates lear's rights as king after the demise of the eldest daughters. he is humble in his acknowledgment that he is equal to others.
- Opines that shakespeare, william. the tragedy of king lear. jay l. halio.
2124 wordsRead More - King Leaar And Gloucester Comparison Essayanalytical essayThroughout Shakespeare's story of King Lear, readers might see a similarity between King Lear and Gloucester. Initially, you feel as if King Lear and Gloucester are, in a sense, bad people for abandoning the individuals that care about them the most. King Lear banishes his daughter Cordelia because she doesn’t express her love for Lear the way he wants her to and he also banishes Kent for standing up for Cordelia in saying that she truly loves Lear the most. Gloucester banishes his son Edgar because he is manipulated by his illegitimate son Edmund into thinking that Edgar is trying to murder him so that he can take his throne. In the beginning, I feel as if King Lear is insecure and has poor judgment while Gloucester is easily influenced and very naive. Towards the end of the play, my opinions on both Lear and Gloucester changed. I began to feel sympathy towards them once they started going through traumatic events. Towards the end of the play, King Lear becomes a humble and caring individual while Gloucester later proves how he is capable of great bravery. In the end, it seems as though both Lear and Gloucester die from the guilt and sorrow that comes from the traumatic events that they experience. One might suggest that they both die from a broken heart.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the similarities between king lear and gloucester in shakespeare's story. they feel like they are bad people for abandoning the individuals that care about them the most.
- Analyzes how lear exhibits his poor judgement and insecurities when he brings in his three daughters to see who will give his kingdom to.
- Analyzes how the storm that occurs in act three symbolizes lear's inner agitation and the start of his insanity.
- Analyzes how gloucester, a nobleman loyal to king lear, is the father of an illegitimate son, edmund. he is gullible and naive in the early acts when he allows his loyal son to turn him against edgar.
- Analyzes how gloucester's physical and metaphorical blindness symbolizes both lear and gloucester. when gloucester loses his vision, he expresses sorrow and guilt towards edgar.
- Analyzes the similarities between lear and gloucester. both have loyal and disloyal children, both are blind to the truth, and both die from a broken heart.
- Concludes that the play tells an important story about life and the hard lessons that come with it.
1253 wordsRead More - King Ler And Inferno Research Paperanalytical essayThe similar theme of justice throughout Inferno and King Lear both depict the eventual consequence of ones actions throughout their existence. Often causing more harm than good, the actions in which they preform tends to damage them more than the action itself. In William Shakespeare King Lear, King Lear decides to disown Cordelia, the youngest of three daughters from owning any part of his kingdom due to the fact that Lear wanted to see which daughter loved him more in which Cordelia replied, “Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave, My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty, According to my bond; nor more nor less.” (Shakespeare 9) Although C...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how alighieri uses the example of the foreseers to convey the consequences of one's actions throughout their existence.
- Compares the epiphany of dante and king leer in inferno, wherein he is sent on a quest to traverse through hell due to his departed love, beatrice, who pursued the aid of virgil.
- Analyzes how justice plays a critical role in both dante alighieri's poem, inferno, and william shakespeare’s tragedy, king lear.
- Analyzes how king lear realizes that he caused the death of his daughter in some form, and the pain and guilt that his actions killed her, is the catalyst for his apparent death.
965 wordsRead More - Sinless King Lear ?analytical essayWhen one contemplates the essence of being a king, one imagines that a king would never want for anything and that his later years would be carefree. In reading King Lear, one sees a seamier side of life for a particular king. Lear draws the audience’s attention to this in Act 3 when he cries out pitifully, “I am a man / More sinned against than sinning.” Although Lear undoubtedly made a huge mistake when he divided his kingdom and banished two people who were very dear to him. However, the sins his two ungrateful daughters committed against him far outweighed the wrongs he had done to others.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that wisdom bids fear to a man who may have his ear abused.
- Explains campbell, lily b. shakespeare's tragic heroes, slaves of passion.
- Analyzes how goneril's actions demonstrate her impatience and her selfish, cunning and vengeful nature as she wanted lear to live the life of a tired old man.
- Analyzes how the king's knights represented his status as king and criticizing them was an insult to lear’s pride and a prick to his ego.
- Narrates how goneril stripped lear of his knights, and he turned away from his other daughter regan for shelter.
- Analyzes how gloucester's act of patricide is the most horrendous thing that could ever happen. gloucester represented lear figuratively.
- Opines that regan's plot to murder her father was enough to make up for the other sins that lear had committed.
- Explains that shakespearean tragedies: lectures on hamlet, othello, king lear, macbeth and brooks' the well wrought urn.
1363 wordsRead More - Shakespeare's King Lear - Suffering of Cordelia in King Learanalytical essayIt is noteworthy that none of the truly evil characters in the drama have yet taken a conscious initiative. Up to this point everything centers around the interaction of Lear, Cordelia and Kent and all the terrible sufferings which follow have their source in this encounter. To rightly comprehend King Lear, we must see the true significance of the court and the direct relationship between it and the tragedy that follows. We must discover the source of the great intensity and direction which finds expression in the action of the drama, and carries it to its inexorable conclusion.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how harley granville-barker justifies cordelia's irreconcilable fate by quoting the passage at length.
- Argues that it would be fatal to present cordelia as a meek saint. she is as proud as her father is, and obstinate, for all her sweetness and her youth. to miss this likeness between the two is to miss shakespeare's first important dramatic effect.
- Analyzes how pride unchecked in lear has grown monstrous and diseased with his years. in her youth it shows unspoiled, it is in flower.
- Compares shakespeare's portrayal of desdemona with cordelia, who combines emotional goodness with stoical will and courage born of idealism.
- Analyzes how cordelia possesses the same pride and obstinacy we find in lear, only her emotions are purer, more cultured and refined than his.
- Analyzes how cordelia refuses to exchange her emotions for a piece of land. she feels deep affection for her father but resents hypocrisy and mercenary professions.
- Analyzes how cordelia's refusal is a violent blow to her father, and how her allegiance to truth has an element of self-righteousness and arrogance.
- Analyzes how cordelia, like desdemona, is one of nature's higher creations. she embodies a high degree of emotional and mental purity.
- Analyzes how kent is a greater development of the qualities possessed by horatio, emilia, and macduff, but he is also of higher build. he recognises lear's authority by selfless devotion.
- Analyzes how king lear's exile from the kingdom and his donning a disguise are the immediate results of the drama.
1509 wordsRead More - Human Suffering in Inferno and King Learanalytical essayThrough Lear, Shakespeare expertly portrays the inevitability of human suffering. The “little nothings,” seemingly insignificant choices that Lear makes over the course of the play, inevitably evolve into unstoppable forces that change Lear’s life for the worse. He falls for Goneril’s and Regan’s flattery and his pride turns him away from Cordelia’s unembellished affection. He is constantly advised by Kent and the Fool to avoid such choices, but his stubborn hubris prevents him from seeing the wisdom hidden in the Fool’s words: “Prithee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to: he will not believe a fool” (Shakespeare 21). This leads to Lear’s eventual “unburdening,” as foreshadowed in Act I. This unburdening is exacerbated by his failure to recognize and learn from his initial mistakes until it is too late. Lear’s lack of recognition is, in part, explained by his belief in a predestined life controlled completely by the gods: “It is the stars, the stars above us govern our conditions” (Shakespeare 101). The elder characters in King Lear pin their various sufferings on the will of...
In this essay, the author
- Compares shakespeare's king lear and dante’s inferno, which explore the reasons for, and results of, human suffering.
- Analyzes how shakespeare portrays the inevitability of human suffering through lear's "little nothings," which evolve into unstoppable forces that change his life for the worse.
- Analyzes how the idea of contrapasso can be applied to both works. both lear and capaneus show repeated instances of hubris and stubbornness.
- Analyzes how inferno is a tale of cautionary advice, directed toward human sin as perceived by dante the poet during his exile.
- Analyzes how king lear is as extreme an example of human suffering as exists in literature. edmund laments being born a "bastard" and curses the circumstances surrounding his birth.
- Opines that when we are sick in fortune, we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon and the stars.
- Analyzes how edmund blames society for his actions, which is just as harmful as lear's or gloucester’s faulting the stars. the play illustrates that humans are completely responsible for their actions and that their suffering is a consequence of poor judgments.
- Analyzes how both inferno and king lear focus on the theme of human suffering, but there is one major difference that separates the works.
- Analyzes how dante the poet maintains the reader's hope from the beginning by showing that the pilgrim made it out alive. inferno makes a powerful statement regarding human suffering by ending on this tone.
- Analyzes how king lear's theme is more veiled and less prevalent than in inferno. the penultimate address to a now deceased cordelia is one of hope.
- Analyzes how king lear leaves much more uncertainty with regards to hope than does inferno.
- Analyzes how king lear and the inferno explore the vastness of human suffering, but there is a sense of levity in both.
1552 wordsRead More - The King's Pride Depicted in Shakespeare's King Learanalytical essayIn Shakespeare's “King Lear”, the tragic hero is brought down, like all tragic heroes, by one fatal flaw; in this case it is pride, as well as foolishness. It is the King's arrogant demand for absolute love and, what's more, protestations of such from the daughter who truly loves him the most, that sets the stage for his downfall. Cordelia, can be seen as Lear’s one true love, and her love and loyalty go not only beyond that of her sisters but beyond words, thus enraging the proud King Lear whose response is: "Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her". Here, Lear's pride is emphasized as he indulges in the common trend of despising in others what one is most embarrassed of oneself.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that they were confused about the meaning of the words "pride" and "self-respect". after a long thought, they came to their own conclusion.
- Explains that self-respect is a sophisticated form of one's ego or pride. one who carries pride is an illusion of superiority.
- Explains that pride and self-respect have a fine line of differentiation. if pride is honorable, it is not pride, but self respect. it doesn't ruin the person, if stays within the ego.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's "king lear" brings down the tragic hero, like all tragic heroes, by pride, as well as foolishness.
- Analyzes how king lear is so determined to be 'butter-ed up' with compliments that he doesn't need self respect, but rather pride. he'd rather have 3 daughters who love him than be filled with actual love.
564 wordsRead More