Analysis Of Harold Bloom's King Lear

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Recommended: Critical comments on shakespeare's king Lear

As Harold Bloom analyzes various interpretations of King Lear in his book, Bloom’s Shakespeare Through the Ages: King Lear, he starts by discussing modern critical interpretations of King Lear. Bloom believes Shakespeare used King Lear to mold out a sense of reality that cannot be seen in any other plays or books except the Bible (304-305). Furthermore, like many other critics have said, Bloom agrees that many elements of King Lear are similar to the Book of Job. However, Bloom believes that Shakespeare sought to have this play resemble the Book of Job in order for the audience to see Job as a model for King Lear’s situation and emphasize the negativity of King Lear’s tragedy. Bloom notes however that King Lear was not like Job because …show more content…

Bloom’s first analysis is of The Fool who he defines as a displaced spirit who is not only beloved, but also a mad person, child, and victim. The Fool and King Lear are believed to always appear together throughout the play because The Fool is responsible for controlling the king’s nobility while destroying some of the king’s sanity. The Fool appears to serve as a teacher for whoever needs him (in this case King Lear), and may travel from play to play, which could explain why The Fool abruptly disappears in the middle of King Lear (Bloom …show more content…

When I had first reviewed King Lear, it was difficult for me to see the point in the Fool. Initially, the Fool had seemed like a random character just thrown into the play. However after reading Bloom’s critique, I now see how much of an important role the Fool had in the play. Without the Fool as a guide for King Lear, it seems unlikely that the main messages of the play would have gotten across since the Fool served to instill the meaning of life in King Lear. Bloom’s analysis of the Fool had also gotten me thinking more about why he would be given that name. Although Bloom believed the Fool’s name resembled his randomness and immaturity, I think his name may be the Fool since he teaches us messages that we’re too oblivious (or foolish) to

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