Tragedy of King Lear
When William Shakespeare wrote this play more than 400years ago He details the love and hardship of raising 3 daughters who ALL SEEK to be the favourite child. Even in today's society, a Fathers love for their daughter can still be seen, How many time do we hear Daddy's girl as to a son being seen as Mummy's boy. Obviously, parents with a son and daughter show equal love but DO THEY REALLY SHOW FAVOURITISM? I myself have experienced this from my brother who thinks I am the blue-eyed boy who can do no wrong. Yet I may actually believe that I do not give any reason for my mother to show this whereas my brother has done some actions that cause more stress and grief than I have ever done. Anyways enough about me.
Below is Act 1 Sc 1 from Ian Mckellan 2008 portrayal of King Lear. I think he plays this part amazingly but unfortunately, this full play is not available on youtube, It costs $5-8 to view the play but there are lots of other plays which are free that you may feel like watching. This is just an intro of Shakespeares play and how it sets out the destruction ahead.
Ian Mckellan is amazing in his role as King Lear. Lawrence Oliver, Kenneth Branagh & Al Pacino all played the role in various King Lear movies and plays which are available on youtube. There are some other parts from Ian Mckellan too so feel free to watch any of the follow -ups but there are other full length plays on King Lear, some are 1 -2hrs long if you want to watch the full play.
King Lear is one of the best plays written by Shakespeare. I read this play as part of my English Studies when I was at University. This is my opinion of the tragedy that occurs throughout King Lear & how this affects all the characters. I truly recommend anyone to read King Lear and for anyone who finds Shakespeares work hard to read and hard to understand the text there are numerous plays that have been televised with famous actors such as Ian Mcleman who played Gandalf in Lord of Rings and many more roles. I will add youtube clips that can be used to visualise the play and help follow the play.
My summary is on the decisions made by the characters which set the path for the destruction that follows.
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The nature of tragedies is suffering and in King Lear there are many points that result in the suffering of the characters from Act 1. The pain caused by Cordelia's disinheritance, Edmund’s suffering of being illegitimate, Lear’s treatment from Goneril and Regan, Gloucester and Edgar’s suffering because of Edmunds treachery they are all examples of this tragic element.
There is a sibling rivalry with Goneril, Regan and Cordilia which is similar to Cinderella fairy tale. Edmund and Edgar have jealousy. Lear and Gloucester are both similar characters’ they are both fathers with no mention of wives. Both have children who have turned against them and have suffered because of it but it is their own actions which started their agony. They are both blinded by their actions and cannot see it until they both have suffered both physically and mentally.
At the start of the play King Lear is powerful, happy, and wealthy and has a peaceful kingdom. Lear has everything a King could want. King Lear's tragic flaw is his ego and his inability to accept reality and responsibility. It is clear that this is Lear's hamartia that it is this fatal character flaw that is his undoing.
The Elizabethan era was dominated by a patriarchal society so Lear dividing his kingdom between his daughters could be seen as madness to the people. The play is dominated by male characters and it is the three daughters who are to be given power and have domination over the kingdom. There is no responsibility for the people which adds to the unrest and the eventual war between France.
Lear wishes to be treated like a king, yet he wants no responsibilities for his kingdom. The reality of dividing a kingdom to the one who expresses their love the most shows that Lear has lost the reality of what his actions could do to not only himself but to his whole Kingdom.
Although he truly knows Cordelia loves him the most, when Cordelia refuses to give in to her father's need for flattery, he becomes enraged, disowning her. He is easily susceptible to flattery and would rather listen to the meaningless words of Goneril and Regan than that of Cordelia, who truly loves him. This is his blindness to reality.
There is no mention of Lear’s wife and the mother of Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Nature vs. Nurture can be seen in the play it is Nature that is blamed for giving Lear such wicked daughters. He takes no responsibility for their upbringing. Nature is used frequently in King Lear to explain the natural and unnatural events in the play. Nature is seen to be the higher being in the Elizabethan age as it is a pre Christianity period and the Gods are within astrology. Gloucester looks to astrology which he interprets to confirm Edgars so-called treachery.
The theme of children turning on their parent adds to the disorder that occurs throughout the play up to the very end. This theme of children and parents is again used in the subplot with Edgar and Edmund and their father Gloucester.
Act 1, s1 - When Gloucester is talking with Kent he introduces his bastard son Edmund with insult. Edmund turns his father against Edgar with ease. Gloucester is gullible; he insults Edmund and is ashamed of him but would believe his lies with such ease. Edmund wants revenge because of his bastard status. He has suffered for not being legitimate.
Act 1 set up this tragedy that follows.
It is King Lear’s actions that begin the destruction of the kingdom but Cordelia could have prevented it if she simply told her father what he wanted to hear. Cordila is the youngest but is stubborn and more like her father.
Reference
King Lear by William Shakespeare, Penguin Popular Classics