King Lear

1337 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character analysis of king lear

Throughout history, men have been depicted in literature in various ways: as warriors, heroes, rulers, fathers, brothers, sons and lovers. Shakespeare's King Lear gives a glimpse of a man's psyche in the course of the relationships he has with the women of the play. King Lear brings out the worst of Goneril and Regan, invoking within them deceit, greed and manipulation, portraying women as foul and loathsome creatures who give rise to suffering and discord. While Cordelia embodies a positive female image, King Lear is illogical in his actions toward her due to her sexuality and his opinion of how a female should honor her father.

There are a number of possibilities for this apparent irrationality in King Lear's actions and reactions toward Cordelia. First it could be Lear's insecurity over what used to be familiar, and what now seems an estranged daughter. He is upset at the revelation that someone with whom he has placed the greatest confidence and trust for his old age has the potential to give him less than what he had projected in his mind. The erosion of this trust and security causes the weathering of his love and generosity towards the daughter who has disappointed him:

"Here I disclaim all my paternal care,

Propinquity, and property of blood,

And as a stranger to my heart and me

Hold thee from this forever." (1.1.114-117)

These words express the illogicality that is used by King Lear towards his daughter, as he claims that he has lost his trust in Cordelia for the sole reason that she is honest with him in explaining her love for him:

"Good my lord,

You have begot me, bred me, loved me. I

Return those duties back as right fit,

Obey you, love you, and most honor you." (1.1.96-98)

I...

... middle of paper ...

...0)

He denied it from himself however, asking Cordelia to refrain from mocking him, but did not fail to seek forgiveness for his male brute and pride.

Shakespeare shows how Lear's pursuit of his selfish concerns led him to ultimate misery. Lear emboides the alpha-male, literally translated as "first male," who wanted to be the first and foremost priority in his daughter's lives. He strove to ensure that superiority even in old age. It discomforts Lear that he was unable to conquer the inherent power that his daughters held with their sexuality. Instead, Lear resorts to illogical actions, like banishing his beloved daughter Cordelia from the dominion of his kingdom. Lear's irrational actions in this Shakespearean tragedy could have been prevented if he felt he was able to consider Cordelia's honest feelings instead of dismissing her blunt words from the start.

Show More
Related

  • Essay Comparing King Lear And Frankenstein

    1827 Words  | 4 Pages

    With Cordelia declared as banished, Lear states, “With my two daughters’ dowers digest the third...Only we shall retain The name and all th’ addition to a king. The sway, revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours” (Shakespeare 17). Lear’s fault here is that he believes that he can divide up his kingdom to his daughters and still retain the title as king; he wants to retire his position and responsibilities as a king but still remain respected and treated as one. His flaw in wanting to be superior leads to his downfall, as he is so blinded by his greed that he decides to divide up his kingdom to his two daughters who are as hungry for power as he is. They only want to strip him of his position and respect to gain more influence. Lear, not realizing the impact of such an impulsive decision, descends into madness when his daughters force him out of his home. After being locked out of his only shelter by his daughters, he states, “Filial ingratitude!...In such a night To shut me out?...O Regan, Goneril, Your old kind father whose frank heart gave all! O that way madness lies. Let me shun that; No more of that” (Shakespeare 137). Lear becomes fully aware of the consequences of his actions. He realizes how ungrateful his daughters are and how they have treated him unfairly even though he has given them everything; much to his dismay, he is left with

    Read More

  • Sense Of Entitlement In Shakespeare's King Lear

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cordelia uses her self-entitlement to create a newfound identity for herself that is stronger and more prominent. The text creator develops her character through a very strong leader who regardless of her gender is able to use her sense of entitlement to empower herself. On the other hand, closely following this concept set out by Shakespeare, he also expands on the other side of this curtain through King Lear. Lear’s fatal flaw is indeed is self-entitlement and this upper status of himself he has built up. It not only leads to the ultimate downfall of himself, but further also causes the destruction of the closely held relationships in his life – causing them to be lost or for the element of complete moral respect to diminish; degrading the value of entitlement. all in all, Shakespeare expands on this key element of self-entitlement and delivers the idea to the reader that when managed it can be a tool that empowers an individual, or when gone out of one’s control can be the singular reason to the ultimate downfall of an

    Read More

  • Rudy Notre Dame Analysis

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rudy’s ultimate goal was to play football at Notre Dame. In order to achieve this major goal, Rudy had to complete smaller goals that lead to this one. First, Rudy had to work hard at his previous job and save enough money to go to Notre Dame. Second, he had to go and settle somewhere close to the university. Thirdly, Rudy had to talk to the priest there about how he can get into Notre Dame. The priest told him that he should go to Holy Cross first and achieve good marks. If he achieved high enough he can get accepted into Notre Dame. So basically, his third goal was to achieve certain grades before being accepted. Simultaneously, Rudy also had to work with the janitor for the football field so that he can get a good feeling about the environment.

    Read More

  • Essay on Blame in Shakespeare's King Lear

    575 Words  | 2 Pages

    King Lear's hot temper and hasty decisions play a significant role in his fall from grace. His old age has caused him to behave impulsively, without any consideration for the consequences of his actions. When Lear asks his devoted daughter Cordelia to express her love for him, he becomes upset with her because she cannot put her feelings into words. He does not realize that she cares deeply for him and disowns her by saying, "Here I disclaim all my paternal care, propinquity and property of blood, and as a stranger to my heart and me hold thee from this for ever (1.1.120-123)." It is only later, when Cordelia has left him, that Lear realizes he had made a wrong decision. In another fit of rage, Lear ...

    Read More

  • Lear's Pride Creates his Madness

    1855 Words  | 4 Pages

    The focus in this scene is to show that Lear has so much pride that it made him blind to Cordellia’s love and the reason to why he loved. His pride made him think that flattery is love thus he gave everything to Goneril and Regan. This was his biggest mistake, leaving him completely dependent upon his two hateful daughters. He kicked Cordellia out so there is no hope of him being helped now.

    Read More

  • A Comparison of Pride in King Lear and The Duchess of Malfi

    1555 Words  | 4 Pages

    The tragic hero of Shakespeare's King Lear is brought down, like all tragic heroes, by one fatal flaw, in this case pride, as well as pride's sister, folly. It is the King's egotistical demand for total love and, what's more, protestations of such from the daughter who loves him most, that set the stage for his downfall, as well as calling to the minds of the Elizabethan audience of Shakespeare's day the above-cited biblical edict. This daughter, Cordelia, can be seen as the humble lamb mentioned earlier, and her love and filial devotion go not only beyond that of her sisters (which is nil) but beyond words, thus enraging the proud king whose subsequent petulant rebukes extend to a bit of ironic Freudian projection: "Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her" (I.i.125). Here, Shakespeare is emphasizing Lear's pride by having him indulge in the common tendency of despising in others (and in this case wrongly) what one is most guilty of oneself. Lear's rash pride ...

    Read More

  • Theme Of Nothingness In King Lear

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although Lear proposes to his daughters that if they tell him how much they love him, he will in return divide parts of the kingdom for them, he has in fact already allocated them each a portion. He indicates this in the opening dialogue between the earls of Gloucester and Kent (1.1.1 -- 6). What prompts him to engage his children in this sham contest is evidently nothing more than vanity. Perhaps all three daughters recognize the contest for what it truly ism but Gone rill and Regan go along with the game anyway, professing in hyperbolic terms what they say they feel for their father. Cordelia refuses. In her asides to the audience she indicates her dilemma: “What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent” (1.1 57). When Lear turns to her and asks what she can say to win “A third more opulent than your sisters,” she replies simply, nothing, my lord” (1.1.82). Asked again, she reiterates her answer, to which Lear responds in a rage.

    Read More

  • King Lear and a Brave New World: Similar Themes and Motifs

    786 Words  | 2 Pages

    The reason for this might be because Cordelia had always been King Lear's most beloved child and

    Read More

  • Analyzing King Lear's Tragic Flaws

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first flaw in King Lear is his arrogance, which results in the loss of Cordelia and Kent. It is his arrogance in the first scene of the play that causes him to make bad decisions. He expects his favorite, youngest daughter to be the most worthy of his love. His pride makes him expect that Cordelia’s speech to be the one filled with the most love. Unfortunately for King Lear’s pride, Cordelia replies to his inquisition by saying, “I love your majesty/According to my bond and nothing less';(1.1.100-101). Out of pride and anger, Lear banishes Cordelia and splits the kingdom in half to the two evil sisters, Goneril and Regan. This tragic flaw prevents King Lear from seeing the truth because his arrogance overrides his judgement. Lear’s arrogance also causes him to lose his most faithful servan...

    Read More

  • Transformation of Lear in Shakespeare's King Lear

    1682 Words  | 4 Pages

    The first stage of Lear’s transformation is resentment. At the start of the play it is made quite clear that Lear is a proud, impulsive, hot-tempered old man. He is so self-centered that he simply cannot fathom being criticized. The strength of Lear’s ego becomes evident in the brutal images with which he expresses his anger towards Cordelia: “The barbarous Scythian,/Or he that makes his generation messes/To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom/Be as well neighboured, pitied, and relieved,/As thou may sometime daughter.” (1.1.118-122). The powerful language that Lear uses to describe his intense hatred towards Cordelia is so incommensurable to the cause, that there can be only one explanation: Lear is so passionately wrapped up in his own particular self-image, that he simply cannot comprehend any viewpoint (regarding himself) that differs from his own (no matter how politely framed). It is this anger and resentment that sets Lear’s suffering and ultimate purification in motion.

    Read More

  • The Fool And Cordelia: Opposing Influences On King Lear

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    While the Fool disrupts Lear’s mental state, Cordelia steadies him with compassion, understanding, and truth. When Cordelia has rescued the King, she says that “Mine enemy’s dog, / though he had bit me, should have stood that night / Against my fire” (4.7.42-44). Cordelia is amazed at her sisters’ treatment of Lear because she cannot comprehend the actions of such uncaring people. Cordelia’s considerate nature soothes the King’s overwrought mind. Because the King seems rash and even irrational at times, those who understand him are few. His youngest daughter knows what Lear goes through with her sisters, and wishes that she could “Repair those violent harms that my two sisters / Have in thy reverence made.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Bad Parenting In King Lear

    1755 Words  | 4 Pages

    After Kent delightfully brings the two together and Lear realizes who he is talking to, he begs for forgiveness: “Pray, do not mock me. / I am a very foolish fond old man, / Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less /....Do not laugh at me, / For as I am a man, I think this lady / To be my child Cordelia.“ (IV.vii.68-79). Lear has finally achieved self-awareness regarding his mistaken banishment of Cordelia, and proclaims to her in a surprising display of humility that he is just a “foolish fond old man.” Shocking the audience, Lear does not hold back his newfound sense of shame. He goes on: “Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not. If you have poison for me, I will drink it. I know you do not love me, for your sisters Have, as I do remember, done me wrong. You have some cause; they have not.” (IV.vii.81-85). In another case of both humility and misjudgment, Lear believes that Cordelia no longer loves him due to his mistakes. Lear could not be more wrong because Cordelia 's love for her father is unconditional and still lives. Cordelia virtuously accepts his apology and assures him “No, sir, you must not kneel,” (IV.vii.67). Although the two do not live much longer, Lear intends to live out the rest of their lives being the best a father can

    Read More

  • Comparing Lear and Gloucester in Shakespeare's King Lear

    1980 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lear's vision is marred by lack of direction in life, poor foresight and his inability to predict the consequences of his actions. He cannot look far enough into the future to see the consequences of his actions. This, in addition to his lack of insight into other people, condemns his relationship with his most beloved daughter, Cordelia. When Lear asks his daughters, who loves him most, he already thinks that Cordelia has the most love for him. However, when Cordelia says: "I love your Majesty according to my bond, no more nor less." (I, i, 94-95) Lear cannot see what these words really mean. Goneril and Regan are only putting on an act. They do not truly love Lear as much as they should. When Cordelia says these words, she has seen her sister's facade, and she does not want to associate her true love with their false love. Lear, however, is fooled by Goneril and Regan into thinking that they love him, while Cordelia does not. This is when Lear first shows a sign of becoming blind to those around him. He snaps and disowns her:

    Read More

  • King Lear

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lear is unable to see the reality of Cordelia’s true love for him when she says: “Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less.” (I.I.96-98) As a result, Lear banished Cordelia from his kingdom with the following words: “..................................for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see That face of her again. Therefore be gone Without our grace, our love, our benison.” (I.I.290-293) Lear’s blindness also causes him to banish one of his loyal followers, Kent. Kent is able to see Cordelia’s true love for her father, and tried to protect her from her blind father’s irrationality. After Kent is banished, he created a disguise for himself and is eventually hired by Lear as a servant. Lear’s inability to determine his servant’s true identity proved once again how blind Lear actually is. As the play progressed, Lear’s eyesight reached closer to 20/20 vision. He realized how immoral his two eldest daughters really were after they locked him out of the castle during a tremendous storm.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's King Lear - The Redemption of King Lear

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lear's relationship with his three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia, is, from the beginning, very uncharacteristic of the typical father-daughter relationship. It's clear that the king is more interested in words than true feelings, as he begins by asking which of his daughters loves him most. Goneril and Regan's answers are descriptive and sound somewhat phony, but Lear is flattered by them. Cordelia's response of nothing is honest; but her father misunderstands the plea and banishes her. Lear's basic flaw at the beginning of the play is that he values appearances above reality. He wants to be treated as a king and to enjoy the title, but he doesn't want to fulfill a king's obligations. Similarly, his test of his daughters demonstrates that he values a flattering public display of love over real love. He doesn't ask "which of you doth love us most," but rather, "which of you shall we say doth love us most?" (I.i.49). It would be simple to conclude that Lear is simply blind to the truth, but Cordelia is already his favorite daughter at the beginning of the play, so presumably he knows that she loves him the most. Nevertheless, Lear values Goneril and Regan's fawning over Cordelia's sincere sense of filial duty.

    Read More

More about King Lear

Open Document