Touching on this Lear may also be suffering in the play because of the flaw that he has no insight into good or bad, this is linked to the theme of blindness throughout the play. The audience observes the blindness Lear has towards Gonerill and Regan. He intentionally shares the kingdom between his daughters, but is oblivious of the effect this will have in the future. As later the audience sees Lear being treated roughly at the hands of Gonerill, but Lear being blind to the truth, believes he will be treated better by Regan, however the dramatic irony shows the audience that Regan will behave in the same way as Gonerill.
This dramatic irony is constant throughout “King Lear”, this irony allows the audience some explanation into Lear’s suffering, as the audience are fully aware that
Gonerill and Regan are working together to take over Lear’s kingdom, but Lear is blind to this. “inform her full of my particular fear”, this quote follows Lear’s decision to move to Regan’s house where he believes he will be treated better, but Gonerill sends Oswald, her servant to go ahead and warn Regan about Lear’s next move, this emphasises to the audience the union between the two sisters.
Lear’s own complex characteristics bring about suffering to himself; this includes his intense anger, which at times is abusive and vindictive “O Vassal! Miscreant”, Lear uses these curses when he is banishing Kent in Act 1, scene 1, the strong and abusive language later causes Lear suffering as he is banishing those who will be of future use. Lear also causes himself further suffering due to the unfair division of his kingdom between, Regan and Gonerill, as said before Lear’s rashness leads to his suffering.
Lear’s suffering in the play may also be due to confusion of his position in society, as a King or as an ordinary man. In addition to these factors, which cause Lear’s suffering in the play, the arrogance which the audience is presented with in Act 1, scene 1 adds to this. Lear is presented as confrontational and challenging as a friend, Kent publicly shows Lear up as being foolish and stupid when he was splitting the kingdom between his daughters “what wouldst thou do, old man?”, proving that Lear is dependent on flattery. Lear then banishes Kent and threatens to execute him if he remains in Britain. The arrogance causes him suffering later in the play because he finds himself in need of these people later. In “King Lear” the constant juxtaposition of scenes used by Shakespeare adds to the dramatic effect of Lear’s suffering the constant torment is emphasised with the scenes placed side by side.
Lear’s suffering is also caused at the hands of his daughters Gonerill and Regan, after splitting the kingdom between the remaining daughters he directly hands over the power into Gonerill and Regan hands. They are then able to use it against Lear and consequently cause him suffering. The audience sees the majority of Lear’s suffering due to his daughters in Act 2, scene 4 in which both sisters take away any power that Lear holds. The audience sees Lear’s suffering directly as when Kent is put into the stocks, Lear questions this and criticises Gonerill’s treatment towards him. The audience is shown the two sister’s standing up against their father, “O sir, you are old”, implying that he has lost most of his reason and due to this he is unable to make rational decisions.
Another aspect of Lear’s suffering caused by Regan and Gonerill is requesting Lear to reduce his followers, by doing this they are emphasising the repression of his power and that he no longer has the stature of being King. It is identified that the daughters clearly have taken power away from Lear, as Regan requests Lear to return to Gonerill’s but on the condition that he must reduce his followers, but Lear responds by suggesting he would much rather plead for forgiveness from Cordelia’s husband then return to Gonerill’s, “to knee his throne, squire-like pension beg”. Shakespeare uses imperatives throughout King Lear, especially in Lear’s suffering which is caused by both him and others. The imperatives Gonerill uses, makes the audience aware that she has the power and can use it against her father, “put on what weary negligence you please”, showing Gonerill does not want Lear treated well.
For a second time the daughters’ cause Lear’s suffering when he cascades into madness, he continues to contemplate the way he treated others and the way his daughters treated him. This descend into madness is shown to the audience in Act 3, scene 2. The audience is shown Lear’s calls for destruction of man and to ruin nature’s mould that produces people like his vengeful daughters. Furthermore Lear is calling on floods to teach people a lesson. The language used by Shakespeare in the onset of Lear’s madness emphasises his decadence. The imperatives are also present in the onset of Lear madness, these verbs are both powerful and violent, and this madness that Lear experiences is caused by the suffering. Moreover Shakespeare uses violent imagery in Act 3, scene 1 “you cataracts and hurricanoes”. The punctuation Shakespeare uses, including the constant use of exclamation marks, emphasise Lear’s anger and rage. The commas and full stops used from line 13 onwards in Act 3, scene 2 show Lear's anger and he is only able to speak one or two words at a time. The short sentences break the iambic pentameter, showing Lear’s rage and decadence into madness. The description is vivid perhaps to show Lear’s own madness caused by his suffering.
The fool plays a central role in Lear’s decadence into madness, the fool is represents to the audience Lear’s split personality. Lear likes the fool as he addressees him as nuncle, as though he is family, however it could be argued that Lear shows affection to the fool and not towards his daughters. The relationship with the fool and Lear is useful as it offers insight and is ironic that Lear admires the fool but has no such regard for his won children.
The language Lear uses towards Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia and Kent shows Lear’s frustration due to his suffering “detested kite, thou liest”, Lear says this to Gonerill, Shakespeare’s use of words describes Lear’s suffering, since the language he uses is foul and affects his daughter’s attitude towards him. Yet Lear’s suffering is also in part caused by his daughter’s, the language Shakespeare uses is cruel “the old man and’s people”, showing they have very little respect.
However throughout Lear’s madness he continues with the lack of insight as the audience is shown once before, as he does not fully understand the cause of Gonerill’s and Regan’s treatment towards him and cannot distinguish whether the love test proved to be good or evil. This madness continues to bring suffering to Lear as he speculates the way he is treated.
All through “King Lear” all the madness and suffering that Lear experiences, brings him insight. Regarding his power Lear is able to gain insight and criticizes the deceitful justice exercised by that in power and without honesty towards the normal people of society. Also the madness and suffering brings Lear insight into the rich and powerful people within society, who are able to escape punishment while the worse off people cannot. Moreover the suffering Lear experiences at the hands of his daughters brings insight that people do not need fancy clothes “if only to go warm were gorgeous”, suggesting humanities basic needs of clothes.
In addition the insight makes existence better for Lear and the audience sees Lear’s reunion with Cordelia “pray do not mock me: I am very foolish, fond old man”, showing Lear asking for forgiveness and remorse for his actions. The insight further allows Lear to distinguish between appearance and reality and he is then able to see through his Gonerill and Regan’s kind words. The audience is shown that Lear does not fully learn from his mistakes, but his values do change as he acknowledges some of his weaknesses “Pray you now, forget And forgive”, this quote shows Lear begging for forgiveness from Cordelia, he becomes more caring and realises the mistakes he has made with Cordelia Lear would rather go with her in prison then become King again. Finally through his insight Lear emerges more humble, loving and sympathetic towards Cordelia.
The structure of “King Lear” conveys suffering as in Act 1 and 2 the audience is shown Lear loosing power to his daughters Gonerill and Regan, which then causes him suffering at the hands of these daughters in Act 3 and also gives the audience insight into the onset of Lear’s madness. Act 4 shows to the audience a change in the role of people who hold power and the final act shows a resolution, in which all the characters and different plots fold together. The structure shows to the audience the cause of Lear's suffering and finally how the suffering he has endured comes to an end.
In conclusion Shakespeare successfully conveys to the audience the theme of suffering throughout “King Lear” caused to Lear both by himself and the cause of others.
