How far would you accept Lear's view of himself as a man

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English Literature.                                                                                      Stephanie Carter.

King Lear

How far would you accept Lear’s view of himself as a man “more sinned against than sinning”?

“King Lear” is a play all about the cruelty of human nature and the ways in which all people, “good” and “bad”, can sin, or be sinned against.  Lear is a very difficult character to categorise as either “good” or “bad” as he is both “sinned against” and “sinning”.  It is also very difficult to use these sins as a measure of his character as they a varying in severity.

        When we first meet Lear he is in the process of dividing his kingdom into three, preparing to hand it to his three daughters.  This is a sin, as according to The Divine Right of Kings, each monarch is chosen by God, and is there fore answerable to none but him.  Having been chosen by God to rule, it would be wrong for him to surrender his sovereignty.  Apart from this, it was incredibly foolish of Lear to give the crown to more than one heir, as it leaves a huge problem of a possible civil war.  Other characters can at this point see the folly of the King’s actions.  Kent advices the king to “reserve thy state”; in saying this he is advising the King not to give away his rule.  Our sympathy at this point is almost certainly not with Lear, particularly after seeing the egotistical love test he imposes on his three daughters before giving them their share of the kingdom.  

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        “Tell me, my daughters,

        (Since now we will divest us both of rule,

        Interest of territory, cares of state),

        Which of you shall we say doth love us most?”

His test is a ridiculous one, as it is obvious that the amount of love his daughters have for him has absolutely no effect on their ability to rule a country.

        Lear reinforces the audience’s ill opinion of him by banishing his youngest daughter and his most trusted advisor when the daughter refuses to lie about her love to her father.  

        “Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

        My heart ...

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