Self Discovey in King Lear

Throughout recorded history, humans have deemed themselves superior to all other living creatures. The Bible, arguably the most influential work of literature extant, demonstrates human superiority in the excerpt, "Let us make man in our image...let them rule over the flesh of the sea and the birds of the air, over all the earth." This notion of superiority was especially evident during the Renaissance, a period categorized by the rebirth of thinking and knowledge. The Renaissance, which lasted from about 1300 to 1600, brought advances in science that clashed with traditional viewpoints on life and the universe. Galileo Galilei, an Italian physicist, mathematician, and astronomer, with evidence from Copernicus' works, proposed a heliocentric model of the universe; that is, a model in which the planets revolve around the sun. The Catholic Church opposed Galileo's ideas, claiming that Bible verses placed the earth at the center of the galaxy; this further supports the notion of human eminence. Galileo was placed on trail in 1633 for heresy and imprisoned for the remainder of his life. Galileo's imprisonment demonstrates the stronghold the church had on society, even during the Renaissance. Equanimity, compliance, and human superiority were tenets supported by the Catholic Church; dissent and individualism were not. Renaissance authors, such as William Shakespeare, seemed to protest human superiority and Stoicism. In King Lear, one of Shakespeare's especially famous works, the main character from which the play gains its namesake embarks on an emotional journey of self-discovery.

The play commences with Lear, the reigning King of England, preparing to divide his kingdom. Lear has three daughters: Regan, Goneril, ...

... middle of paper ...

... 39-year old man from California, slaughtered his family in an attempt to receive a sizable inheritance. Lyle and Erik Menendez, also from California, ended the lives of their parents in pursuit of an upper-class lifestyle. These individuals valued money over familial ties; King Lear originally valued power and compliance over his own blood. The self-discovery of King Lear exemplifies the fact that humans are far more valuable than money or power in attempt to set an example for humanity. These lessons still ring true in more modern times; famed psychiatrist Sigmund Freud warned against accepting flattery as genuine and giving away one's possessions during his or her lifetime. Lear's self-discovery came too late to save his daughters; the play seems to encourage humanity to have its own self-discovery before it disavows its Cordelias in the pursuit of niceties.