King Lear Essay Questions

LoyaltyInKingLear

"KingLear"byWilliamShakespeareistheplaythatIhavestudiedinthecourseanditisoneof WilliamShakespearefamousplay.IfoundthatthisplayisveryinterestingandIamimpressedby oneoftheprotagonistsintheplay,TheEarlofKentTheEarlofKentisoneofthemaincharacters intheplayandservestheroleofEarltoKingLear.Hedemonstratesextraordinaryloyalty throughouttheplay.Firstandforemost,KentspeaksupwheneverheseeLearactinginawaythat willdohimnogood.Atthebeginningoftheplay,whenKingLearisgoingtodisownCordelia, KentistheonlyonewhotryingtostopKingLearbysaying"Goodmyliege".Besidesthat,Kent standsupandurgesKingLear,"Reversethydoom,Andinthybestconsiderationcheckthishideous rashness."KentasksKingLeartoreversehisfoolishdecisiontodisowntheonlylovingandloyal daughter,Cordelia.Inaddition,KentalsotellsKingLear,"Thyyoungestdaughterdoesnotlove theeleast,Norarethoseempty–heartedwhoselowsound"KentpointsoutthatCordelialovesLear themost,andhecanseethatGonerilandReganare"empty–hearted"andtheirflatteringwords meannothing.Asaconsequenceofspeakingoutallthetruths,KentisbanishedbyKing Lear....showmorecontent...

Forexample,attheendoftheplay,whenEdgartryingtowaketheKing,Kentsays"Vexnothis ghostO,lethimpassHehateshimthatwouldupontherackofthistoughworldstretchhimout longer."Kent'sloyaltyandpityforKingLearleadhimtobegtheotherstonotattempttosavethe King'slife.Inaddition,afterLear'sdeath,AlbanyofferedKenttohelprulethekingdom,butKent refuses.Hesays,"Ihaveajourney,sir,shortlytogo:Mymastercalls,andImustnotsayno."This impliesthatKentisgoingtocommitsuicidesohecanbewiththeKing.ThisalsoshowsthatKent's loyaltyasaservantis

...Getmorecontent...

KingLearReflection

InthefirstactofKingLear,welearnalotabouteachofthecharacterswithinashortamountof time.Welearn,thateachofthemhavetheirownagendaandtheirownmischievousideasofwhat theKingdomshouldbeinthenearfuture.However,notonlydowelearnalotaboutthecharacters, butwelearnmainlywhatthisplayisabout.Thisplayhasastrongthemeof,love,hatred,despair andjealousyThesethemesarewidelydemonstratedthroughouttheplaybeginningwiththefirst act.EachoftheseactsshowhowthethemesthatIpickedfortheplayfitin.Throughoutthisjournal overtime,Iwouldliketotalkaboutthesethemesandwhereeachofthemfitinwithintheplayof

KingLear

WhenIwasgiventhisassignmentinclass,themainpurposeofthisjournalwastopickacharacter throughouttheplaythatIwouldfollowonthisjourneythroughoutthereading.Ichosetopickthe characterofKingLearbecauseofhowischaracterwouldprogressduringtheplayinsuchastrong way.KingLearunlikeanyothercharacterduringtheplayIfeelistheonethatchangesthemost drasticallyoverashortperiodoftimeInthebeginning,onecouldinferthatKingLearadoredhis Kingdom.Whenreadingtheplay,weasareadercouldtellLearwasoldandprobablynotinthebest ofhealth,soitwasonlyrightthathewantedhisKingdomtogotosomeonewhotrulywouldtakeit overandrunitthewayhewould.Wecouldalsotellthathelovedhispower,howeverKingLearin thisactuseshisauthoritytooverpowerhisloveonesIbelieveinanegativeway.

Ibelievethisistruebecause,withinthefirstfiveminutesoftheplaywelearnthatKingLearis dividinguphisKingdomintohalvesbasedoffoftheloveeachoneofhisdaughterspouredoutto him.ThismeetingkeepinmindonlylastedIwouldsayanhourandheexpectedthemtodevote theirpasttwentyfiveplusyearstohimsoquicklyAtthereadingoftheWill,Learwouldstillbein chargeofthetreasury,churchandarmyoftheKingdom.Thelandwouldalmostbeacoverupthat theygetwhattheywant(thedaughters),butreallyheisstillrunningtheshow.WhenIreadthis,I wasshocked,thatafatherwouldbasewhathewouldleave

...Getmorecontent...

RelationshipsInKingLear

WilliamShakespeare'sKingLearismassiveinscopeanddealswithmanythemes.I'dliketofocus onKingLear'srelationshipwithhisdaughtersasitevolvesthroughouttheplayaswellastheplay KingLear'sthemesregardingpoliticsandpoliticking.ThepassageIthinkbestrepresentsthe conclusionofthesethemesisKingLear'sconversationwithCordeliainAct5,scene3wherethey havebeentakenprisonerbytheEnglishMyconclusionfromreadingthispassagecloselyisthatin Shakespeare'sKingLear,KingLear'sspeechtoCordeliaregardingtheirimpendingimprisonment buildsShakespeare'sideaofcagedpotentialandjudgementforthosewhopolitic.Thefirstlinesof thisspeech,"No,no,no,no!Come,let'sawaytoprison:Wetwoalonewillsinglikebirdsi'the cage:"(5.3.8–9)inresponsetoCordelia'squestionofwhethertheyshouldseeGonerilandRegan, giveusanideaofKingLear'smentalstateatthistimeintheplay.KingLearappearstobelucidand tohavelargelyregainedhissanityfromtheearlierscenesoftheplayoncehehasreunitedwith Cordelia.Heinsistsstrongly,withfournoes,thattheyshouldgoimmediatelytoprison.The metaphorofLearandCordeliaasbirdsinacageimpliesthatheandCordeliawillhavelosttheir freedom,asabirdinacagelosesitsabilitytofly.Yet,bysayingthattheyshallsinginthiscage, Learsaysthattheywillbehappywhiletheyhavelostflightandfreedom,theywillhaveone another.KingLear

...Getmorecontent...

ConventionsInKingLear

KingLearposesmanyquestionstoitsaudience.Shakespeare'sconventionsthroughoutthestory holdtruetotheplotuntilAlbany'sspeechisinterruptedbyLear'sramblingwords.Uponcloser examinationhowever,itisobviousthattheplay'swritermeanttoviolatesomeoftheconventions whichhesetearlierinthestorythroughthecrazedking'swords.Thecharacter'sversescanbe interpretedseveralways,showingadifferentsideoftheconventionswhichShakespearesets Focusingontheparticularsceneshowsanunderlyingthemeconcerningthehumanrace.Hiswriting leavestheaudiencewithaquestionaboutthestory'struemeaning.AsAlbanybringstheeventsof thestorytoaconclusionbynotinghowhisfriendsandenemieswillberepaid,KingLearsuddenly interruptswitharantingexplanationwhilecarryinghisdaughter's...showmorecontent... Ononehand,hemaybeimplyingthatthereisstillhopeeveninsuchacruelworld.Althoughthere isaglimmerofhope,Lear'sdeathmaystealawaythehopefromtheremainingcharacters. Conversely,asaresultofhisnewlyoccurringgrief,hiswordsconcerninghisdaughter'slastbreath mayshowonlythathismaddenedstatehasreturnedHefinallyreachedapointofcontentmentby recognizingthemeaningfulthingsinhislifewhenthepersonwhobroughthimthatclarityisstolen awayfromhim.ShakespeareprovidesanunderlyingthemeforthefateofhumanityusingKing Lear.Duringhisfinalwords,hediscusseshisdaughter'sendingbreath.Shakespeareissuggesting throughthescriptthatthereishopeforthesurvivalofhumanityevenwhenalloddsseemtobe againstitItisobviouslyafightingchanceconsideringCordeliaisdeadattheconclusionofthe story.Theauthorplayswiththedebatedopinionsofhurryingthroughlifetogettowhatawaitsa personinheavenortakingadvantageoftheopportunitiesgiveninlifetomakeitinto

...Getmorecontent...

ThemostprevailingimagesinKingLeararetheimages(metaphoricandactual)ofnature.The conceptofnatureseemstoconsumethedialogue,monologues,andsetting.

Itmightbeusefultoviewnatureas`thenaturalorderoftheworld'(and,perhaps,theuniverse). Whenonegoesagainstthenaturalorder,chaoswillfollowShakespearehasmadethispointclearin "TroilusandCressida"whereUlyssespredictsthatonce"thespecialtyofrulehathbeenneglected disasterwillfollow,fortakebutdegreeaway,untunethatstring,andharkwhatdiscordfollows" (Iiii)ButwhatarethenaturalordersthatwereupsetinKingLear?First,andforemost,KingLear dividedhiskingdomandsteppeddownfromthethrone.Akingofdivine...showmorecontent... 215).

AsReganandGonerilshowtheirdisdainand,thereby,exposetheir`natural'selvestoLear,his recognitionofthemandthewronghedidtoCordeliaarealsoexpressedwiththelanguageofnature; ofCordeliahesays,"Omostsmallfault,howuglydids'tthouinCordeliashow!That,likean engine,wrenchedmyframeofnaturefromthefixedplace"(I.iv.262–265).AndwhenLearrealizes thatbothReganandGonerilhavedeceivedhim,hecallsthem"unnaturalhags"(II.iv.276).

Lear'sactionsofdistributinghiskingdomtohisdaughters(whichinapatriarchalsocietysuchas Lear'sisagainstnaturallaw)andhisrashnessofexpellingCordeliaandwronglyrewardingRegan andGoneril,wereaviolationandmisreadingoftruenaturewhich,fromthatpointon,leadtothe destructionanddeathofLearandhisfamily

ThesubplotinKingLearisofGloucesterandhissonsEdmundandEdgar.Edmund,the illegitimate,bastardson,canbeseenassomehowunnaturalaccordingtothelawsofsocietyatthat time.GloucesterhimselfsaystoKent,regardingEdgar,"ButIhave,sir,asonbyorderoflaw..." (Ii18)ThesubtexthereisthatEdmund'sconceptionwasoutsidethelawandunnaturaltothe socialstructure.

LikeLear,Gloucesterfailstoseethetruenatureofhischildrenandalsoinvokesthelanguageof natureinblindways.AfterwronglycondemningEdgarhecallsEdmunda"loyalandnaturalboy" (IIi85)

InspeakingofEdmundin

...Getmorecontent...

KingLearSummary

Theplay,"KingLear"byWilliamShakespeare,startswithnoblemenKentandGloucesterhavinga conversationandtheaudiencefindsoutthatGloucesterhastwosons.Edgarwhoishisheir,and EdmundhisunimportantsonThisinfoleadstothemini–plotThen,Learenterstosaythatheis goingtoendhislife'stasksandproblems.Hethenpointstothemap,hetellsthepeopletherethathe willsplithislandintothreeparts.Theyaregoingtobegiventohisthreedaughters.Thetwooldest, GonerilandRegan,telltheirfatherthattheirloveforhimgoesbeyondexpectationsTheyoungest one,Cordelia,tellshimthatsheloveshim,butonlyassheshouldloveherfather.Heisthen...show morecontent

GoneriltellsLearthatheneedsasmallertroop,moredecorousinbehaviorandbettersuitedtothe king'srankandage.ThekingisveryangryandsayshewillpackuphispeopleandmovetoRegan's palaceLear'sangercontinuestobuild,andhecallsuponnaturetocurseGoneril'swombIn response,Gonerilturnsout50ofLear'sretinue.Asthesubplotdevelops,Edmundwoundshimself slightly,pretendingthatEdgarhasattackedhim.CertainthatEdgarwillalsotrytokillhim, GloucesterpromisestofindthemeanstomakeEdmundhisheir.Afterhisescapeintothewoods, EdgardecidesthathewilldisguisehimselfasaBedlambeggar,whowillbeknownasPoorTom. Meanwhile,CornwallordersanimpassionedKentplacedinthestocksLeararrivesandquickly realizesthatReganhasjoinedGonerilinseekingtoreduceLear'sauthority.Learremindshis daughtersthathegavethemallthattheynowenjoy,buttheyareunmoved.AnangryLearcallsfor hishorse,andridesintothestormwithhisFoolforprotectionExposedtothestorm,theFool attemptstoreasonwithhisking,butLearwillhavenopartofsubmission,especiallybeforehis daughters.SoonthekingandFoolarejoinedbyEdgardisguisedasPoorTom.Gloucestertells Edmundoftheplottosavetheking,unawarethatheisdivulgingtheplanstoatraitor.Edmund immediatelyresolvestotellCornwalloftheplan.Edmundsoonreceiveshisreward:Gloucester's titleandlandsThecaptured

...Getmorecontent...

ResearchEssayEdmund'scharacterinKingLearisoneofthemostdeceivingcharactersthroughout theentireplay.Byusingthemethodsofcharacterization,whatacharactersays;whatotherssay aboutthem;andwhatacharacterdoes,oneseesthatEdmundistreacherous,self–willedandlacking inmoralfibre.UnderstandingthecharacterizationofEdmundshelpsthereadertounderstandthe suspenseintheplotThroughhisactionsthereadergainsinsightintohowself–willedEdmundtruly is,whenhewritesthefirstletter,convincingGloucesterthatEdgarwantstokillGloucester.From whathisfathersaysabouthimoneseeshoetreacherousheis,castingasidethosewhosharehis bloodAndwhathesaysshowsthatheislackinginmoralshowmorecontent ItisthroughwhathesaysthatonecanseehowEdmundislackinginmoralfibre."(aside)IfIfind himcomfortingtheking,itwillstuffhissuspicionmorefully(aloud)Iwillpersevereinmycourse ofloyalty,throughtheconflictbesorebetweenthatandmyblood"(3.5.18–19).Edmundlies withoutasecondthought,andwithflair.HesaysthatGloucestercantrusthim,andthatheisloyal tohimThenwiththesameeasehealreadybeginstoplotaboutturingoverhisfatherFully knowingthattodosoiswrong,andthattheconsequencesGloucesterwillfacebegrave.Yethe doesitanyway,hebetrayshisownbloodforpower.ShowingthatEdmundlacksmoralfibre.The useoftheasideisimportantbecauseEdmundsdialogueisspokenbutnotheardbytheotheractors onthestage.Givingtheaudiencespecialinformationtheactionoftheplot.Theaudiencenow knowsthatEdmundisplanningtoframehisfatherItaddssuspensebecauseit"isthatqualityina storywhichmakesthethereaderask'Whatisgoingtohappennext?'...andimpelshimtoreadonto findtheanswerstothesequestions"(Perrine47)Thereaderisnowcompelledtoreadontofindhow whathappenstoGloucesterwhenEdmundturnshimoverto

...Getmorecontent...

KingLearActIIIStudyQuestions

SceneI1.KentrevealstotheGentlementhattensionbetweenRegan'shusband(Albany)and Goneril'shusband(Cornwall)couldquitepossibleresultinacivilwar.However,asidefromthe war,thetwomaybeunitedinplottingagainstthemurderofKingLear.TheKingofFranceis preparingtomakeamoveagainstthesetwodividedhouseHemayhavealreadysentspiestotheir householdsdisguisedasservants.2.ThemissionthatKentaskstheGentlementocompleteistogo toDover,theplacewhereCordelialives,andinformherofhowinsultinglyhewastreatedby GonerilandReganAlso,inordertomakesurethatCordeliaknowsthemessagesentisfromhim, heinstructstotheGentlemento...showmorecontent...

11.Edgar'sspeechisfilledwithalliterationswhenheistellingKingLearabouthowheisbeing chasedbythedevil.Hestatessomeinterestingthingssuchas"thefouldfiendfollowsme"(3.4.50.)

12.UponseeingEdgaremergefromthehoveldisguisedaspoorTom,Learimmediatelyassumes thatheisamadmanandthereasonheisinthisstateisbecauseofhisdaughters13Edgarresponds toLear'sassumptionsbystatingthatheonceusedtobearichcourtierwhousedtodrinkwineall thetimeandhavewomenwithhim.14.LeartearsoffhisclothesinresponsetoseeingEdgar (disguisedasTom)withanuncoveredbody.It'sthefirsttimeinhislifethatheactuallysympathizes withsomeoneotherthanhimself.AsLearisdrivenfurtherandfurtherintoinsanity,hestartsto thinkmoreabouthumanityandthewaytheworldperceiveshimLearhasactuallytakeninto accountsomeofthethingsthatEdgarsaysbecauseherealizedthattheworlddoesn'tjustrevolve aroundhimandthatmaterialpossessionsarenoteverything.Thiskindofironicbecausealongwith beingphysicallynaked,heisalsofigurativelynakedbecausehehaslostallsupportandmustface thecrueltiesoftheworldbyhimself.15.Gloucester'sappearanceatthehovelillustratestheparallel

...Getmorecontent...

KentisplayinganimportantroleinKingLear'splaybyWilliamShakespeare.Kenthasaunique characterwithsomewonderfulqualities.Kent'scharacteristhemostloyal,brave,truthful,wise,and dutifulservanttotheking(Lear).Hetriesveryhardtoprotectandadvisehismaster.Kentconsiders himselfasLear'sphysician.Hewantstoremindhimorshowhimtherightpath.So,whenCordelia cannotexpressherloveto(Lear)throughalovetestwhoisherfatherHeisabouttomakeafoolish mistake.Learbecomesangryatheranddisownsherfromhiskingdom.Kentasabraveandwise manstandsagainstLear'sdecisioninordertoturnaroundhisjudgementonCordelia.Itisbecause asawiseanddutifulservanttohismaster,heknowsitisafoolishandunwisedecisiononherThen Learstopshimandtellshimnottointerfere,butKentaseverloyalandbravemansays"RoyalLear, whomIhaveeverhonour'dasmyking,lovedasmyfather,asmymasterfollow'd,asmygreat patronthoughtoninmyprayers,––."

showmorecontent

ThisbehaviourfromKentmakesLearangrierandhethreatenshim.Learsaysthathisbowis pointedtowardhimHewillkillhimifhedoesnotstopInreturnKenttellshimIdonotcaredo whateveryouwanttodo,butIwillnotletyoutomakesuchmistake.Therefore,Leartellshimnot tobetonhislifeanymore,butnothingcanstopKentfromspeakingthouheknows,hehastopay thepriceforit.So,hesaystoLear"MylifeIneverheldbutasapawntowageagainstthyenemies; norfeartoloseit,Thysafetybeingthemotive."Whatalove,loyaltyandbraverythatKentis havingforhisKingSimplyhesaysIhavenevercaredofmylifewhenitcomestoyoursafetyI havealwaysbeenatthefrontlineasaloyalsoldieragainstyourenemies.Learbecomesmadtells himtogoawayfromhissight,butLearfoolishlybanishestheloyalanddutifulKentfromhis ...Getmorecontent...

Idecidedtore–readKingLearActOneformyreflectiveessay.WhenIdecidedtore–readActOne IdecidedtotryandfindadifferenttranslationbecauseIbelievedthatfindingonewouldhelpfill anyideasImissedwhilereadingthefirsttime.WhichleadtofindinganonlineversionofKingLear writtenaspartoftheNoFearShakespearecollection,whichIpreviouslyusedandloved,butsadly hadforgottenaboutAfterIreadthatIrealizehowmuchIactuallymisunderstoodanddownplayed theactbyconnectingitwithmylimitedknowledgeaboutthetimeperiod.Whichcausedmeto realizethatIwasmanipulatingthewayIviewedtheactthefirsttimeIreaditintosomethingthatI believedwasinLear'stime,sociallyacceptableshowmorecontent AndthatCordeliawasunabletoexpresshowmuchsheloveshimbecauseofsocialshynessrather thansocialstandards.AfterreadingfurtherintotheactIrealizedIhadfilledinwhatwasbad,butI hadalsofilledinwhatwasgood.IcompletelyoverlookedhowtheLordofFrancetreatedCordelia afterherbanishment.ButwhenIwentbackwhilere–readIrealizedthathewaslovingandkind whenspeakingtoheratherlowest"BeautifulCordelia,you'realltherichernowthatyou'repoor You'remorevaluablenowthatyou'rerejectedandmorelovednowthatyou'rehated."(NoFear Shakespeare,259–261)Hedidnotwantthedowryfromherfatherbuthewantedherforwhoshe wasinadditiontowhatshestoodfor.ThisrevelationwassoclearbutIsimplymisseditwhichleads metowonderwhatelseImissedintherestofKingLear.IfeellikeIdidKingLearahorrible injusticebylettingmylimitedknowledgeconnectanygapsthatIhadwhilereadingtheactWhileI wascorrectinbelievingthatsomeofmyassumptionsaboutthesociallyacceptableforthattime wouldbecorrect.Iwasalsoincorrectinbelievingthatthewholefirstactwouldfollowthis stereotypeThiswayofthinkingblockedmy

...Getmorecontent...

KingLearEverysituationinlifehasanappearance,andareality.Theappearanceofasituationis usuallywhatwewanttosee.Thereality,whatisreallygoingon,isnotalwaysasobvioustothe observer.Peoplewhocannotpenetratethroughthesuperficialappearanceofasituationwillseeonly whattheywanttobelieveistrue;often,therealityofasituationisunappealingtotheperceiver. ThesearethecircumstancessurroundingtheconflictthatoccursinWilliamShakespeare'sKing Lear.Asanaudience,youfindthatthereisamajorcharacterflawinthecharactersKingLearand theEarlofGloucester.Inthestory,neitherofthesetwomenareabletoestablishthedifference,in theirminds,betweenwhatpeopleareshowmorecontent

Withthisinmind,wecanconcludethatLearandGloucesterarebothveryquicktoacceptpeopleat facevalue,withoutanyattempttogainadeeperunderstandingofthem.Similarly,welearninKing Lear,thathowweperceiveourselves,maynotbehowweareperceivedbyothers.Lear,for example,believeshimselftobeagreatandrespectedKing,whoiswealthyandpowerful. Nevertheless,heisconstantlyremindedbytheactionsofGoneril,andRegan,thatheisanoldman whohaslosthiskingdom,hisonlyfaithfuldaughter,andhiswits."O,sir,youareveryold!Nature inyoustandsontheveryvergeofherconfine.Youshouldberuled,andledbysomediscretionthat discernsyourstate"(II.iv.146–148.)thisisreasonandwaythatReganfeelsherfathershouldbe removedfrompower.Lear,everblinded,doesn'tseethathistwodaughtersaretryingtostealhis kingdomConsequently,whenGonerilandReganarecuttingdownhistrain,hestillbelievesthat theirlovecanbemeasuredinwordsandnumbers"Thyfiftyyetdothdoublefiveandtwenty,and thouarttwiceherlove"(II.iv.261–262).LearbelievesthatbecauseGonerilwillallowhimtwiceas manyservantsinherhome,shemustlovehimtwiceasmuchasRegandoesThisconstantwantof praiseandlaudingmakesLearverysusceptibletopersuasionbyhisevildaughters,andultimately leadstohislosses.Gloucester,alsoperceiveshimself

...Getmorecontent...