An Analysis of the Role of Comedy in Shakespeares Great Tragedy King Lear
Lucy Anderson An Analysis of the Role of Comedy in Shakespeare’s Great Tragedy King Lear. The tragedy of King Lear lies in the pathos of King Lear’s descent into madness as the once all-powerful ruler of Britain loses everything. As he reaches the end of his journey upon which Lear learns to accept responsibility for his mistakes as a monarch and a father, he is reunited with Cordelia, the one daughter who has been faithful to him throughout. It appears that Lear’s life will begin to get better: Lear has a chance of forgiveness and reconciliation. Shakespeare adds one final cruel twist to the tragedy: Cordelia’s death. This rips Lear’s world apart to the extent that he dies from the heart wrenching events. This ends the tragedy of King Lear. Comedy is evident everywhere, even in a great tragedy such as King Lear. Comedy and tragedy are closely related emotions as one person may find a situation tragic feel pathos, while another person may find the same situation humorous. This is expressed by G. Wilson-Knight in The Wheel of Fire as a kind of laughter that “treads the brink of tears”. Despite the close relationship between these two emotions they are also completely incongruous and are poles apart: one provides relief while the other causes suffering. A strong thread of comedy is evident throughout the play which ultimately helps to increase the tragedy of
Filial ingratitude is a dominant theme in King Lear.
‘Filial Ingratitude’ Is this the root of the family’s breakdown throughout the play? ________________ Filial ingratitude is a dominant theme in King Lear. It is a universal theme in the sense that it is common to find many sons and daughters who show much ingratitude and cruelty towards their parents. In the play, there are two fathers (Lear and Gloucester) who suffer because of favoring certain kids to others. Their tragedy is caused by those whom they have already favored and preferred. The play gives us incidents which connect one father (King Lear) with his two ungrateful daughters (Goneril and Regan) on one hand, and another father (the Earl of Gloucester) with his son (Edmund). Those two lines of relationships display the issue of ingratitude on a very deep and comprehensive level. What made this play a tragedy was the evil children's "filial ingratitude," for the "blindness" of Lear and the Earl was so great that only through suffering from the "monster ingratitude" of Goneril, Regan, and Edmund did they learn to distinguish the good children from the evil ones. It was "filial ingratitude" which opened Lear's eyes to the "painful truth": he had disinherited his good daughter and had given power to his evil daughters. Lear expresses his great shock addressing ingratitude as an enemy that has occupied the heart of his daughter. He says: "Ingratitude, though
King Lear- Significant lines
And yet not so, since I am sure my love’s more ponderous than my tongue Said by Cordelia when she was ment to say something during division scene to prove her love towards her father – Significant because it shows her character: honest, loving, etc. Nothing? Said by Lear when Cordelia responded with nothing to prove her love – Significant because Lear misunderstands Cordelia which is what brings him down to nothing See better, Lear, and let me still remain the true blank of thine eye. Said by Kent when Lear tells him to get out of his sight – Significant because Lear is metaphorically blind and Kent asks him to see clearly Let’s see, let’s see Said by Gloucester to Edmund about the letter Edmund hides – Significant because what Gloucester sees is a lie I would unstate myself to be in a due resolution Said by Gloucester to Edmund after he read the fake letter – Significant because only when he does lose everything does he learn the truth And the noble and true-hearted Kent Banished! Said by Gloucester to Edmund after he read the fake letter discussing the stars – Significant because it shows the reverse of natural order Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit; all with me’s meet that I can fashion fit Said by Edmund to himself after he gives Gloucester the letter and gains Edgars trust. Significant because he cannot get land by birth
Notes on King Lear Act 1 Scene 1 and Act 3 Scene 7
King Lear INTRO •English poet, playwright, and actor •widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language •unknown birthdate, baptised 26th April 1564, Warwickshire •arguably his most celebrated/complicated play •King Lear is written in the form of a tragedy. Structurally he gives up power and control and therefore dies low in status – all suffer because of his misguided, selfish actions •The titular character descends into madness after disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. •wrote in Christian in times, but set in Pagan era so he didn’t offend the King/Queen •wrote for Elizabeth I, Henry VIII daughter – ‘divine right of Kings’ – King Lear giving up control was seen as madness – giving up power and then realising it was a mistake – relevant •play encompasses all of society from ‘kingship’ to ‘beggars’ •all based on hierarchy, patriarchy, (similar of that in both poems •Lear represents England and what can happen when power is divided ACT 1 SCENE 1 •establishes characters and their good/bad natures. Tragedy begins in earnest •Lear delivers speech to Gloucester and Kent – his advisors -on the fact he is giving up power •a Jacobean audience would see this is as foolish; it would be political suicide in their eyes. He is devolving
Discuss how Shakespeare illustrates the character of Lear changing during the play.
Discuss how Shakespeare illustrates the character of Lear changing during the play. In the play, Shakespeare develops the character of Lear from a King oblivious to the feelings and intentions of others, into a loving father, who cares deeply for his daughter. The play is a tragedy. The dictionary offers 'play in which the hero is destroyed by a personal failing in adverse circumstances' as a definition. King Lear certainly fits the bill, although it could be argued that he is not altogether a hero at the start. Act 1 Scene 1 King Lear decides to divide his kingdom up between his daughters. But why is he doing this? He wishes to give up his responsibilities but retain the power associated with Kingship. This on its own is very self-centric behaviour, wanting power but the burden of leadership. "To shake all cares and business from our age, Conferring them on younger strengths while we Unburdened crawl toward death" The way Lear is deciding how much land to give his daughters is to judge how much they love him, irrespective of how well they could rule. This shows a disregard for the people of his kingdom, his only concern being for himself. "Which of you shall we say doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend" Instead of abdicating responsibility to the daughter whom he believes would use it well, he attempts to measure their verbal praise for him, a
Discuss Shakespeare's treatment of madness in "King Lear".
Discuss Shakespeare's treatment of madness in "King Lear". In "King Lear", Shakespeare uses many different concepts of madness, real, feigned and professional madness. The character of King Lear, himself shows high and low points of genuine insanity. The character Edgar disguises himself as a deranged beggar. The fool displays madness for humour as part of his job as an entertainer. Throughout the play Shakespeare also uses a background of bizarre weather conditions to emphasise the theme of madness. Most of the characters apart from Edmund have a belief in the gods; these beliefs can be seen as absurd to a modern day reader. Gloucester's madness is his inability to understand situations and to see people for what they really are. King Lear's madness starts at the beginning of the play with political insanity when he decides to divide his kingdom between his daughters using a 'love test'. His 'love test' unfolds the wrong results. He ends up giving the kingdom to Goneril and Regan, the daughters that love him least and sending away Cordelia, the daughter that really cares for him. The Earl of Kent realises Lear has not seen the insincerity of Goneril and Regan labelling him as mad for succumbing to their charms. "Be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad...when power to flattery bows...And in thy best consideration check this hideous rashness." (Act 1 Scene 1, Kent to Lear)
Lear’s Three Daughters
Darchelle Curry British Literature 2/5/01 Period A Lear's Three Daughters The Shakespearean tragedy, King Lear, illustrates what happens when children are consumed by greed and loose the love for their parents. All three of Lear's daughters represent a different part of himself. Regan and Goneril, Lear's two "evil" daughters, represent the darker side of Lear. They represent his greed and cruelty. Lear's youngest daughter, Cordelia, represents his softer side. She represents his softer nature, which comes out at the end of the play when he is so sad, because of Cordelia's death, that he dies also. "Lear was a selfish, proud man, using his daughters' love as a way for the daughters to win rule over the kingdom."1Goneril is the eldest of King Lear's daughters. She is the first of his daughters to lie to her father about loving him. "Sir, I love you more than words can weild the matter; Dearer than eyesight, space and liberty; Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No less than life with grace, health, beauty, honor; As much e'er loved, or father found; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable: Beyond all manor of so much I love you." Act 1 Scene 1, lines 57-63 By publicly professing her love to Lear, she convinced him that her love is true. Once Lear divides his land and gives half to Goneril, she no longer needs
Explore the Ways in Which Shakespeare Presents the Character of King Lear.
Explore the Ways in Which Shakespeare Presents the Character of King Lear Lear is the title character of the play, and Shakespeare finely crafts his presentation to manipulate audience sympathies and reflect significant changes in the character. Lear is presented through his own language and the language of other characters, such as the Fool and Kent. Often the opinions of another character will contrast with that of Lear, offering us an objective view of the King's behaviour. The way he is presented is changed constantly throughout the play, and this can be seen through the close analysis of several key scenes. Lear does not appear in the very first scene of the play, but is discussed by his courtiers, Gloucester and Kent. They speculate on the division of the kingdom, and who the King favors most out of two dukes... 'I though the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall' The fact that these two nobles spend their time discussing the King shows us his importance, and the importance of his decisions. We learn from the discussion that the King's thoughts have become difficult to predict. The function of beginning the play without Lear is that it shows his status in comparison to the nobility. When Lear makes his entrance, Gloucester ends his conversation abruptly and announces that 'the king is coming'. Lear's power is reflected by the reaction to his
By the end of the first two acts how far do you agree with King Lear’s statement that he is “a man more sinned against that sinning”.
By the end of the first two acts how far do you agree with King Lear's statement that he is "a man more sinned against that sinning". The plot of King Lear sees his two eldest daughters, Gonerill and Regan ruthlessly and cruelly plotting against their father in a bid to rid him of all his remaining power after he has split the Kingdom between them. However, it is not the case that King Lear is an innocent victim, as he is also guilty of initially treating his youngest daughter, Cordelia and most loyal aide, Kent appallingly in the first act when they are banished from the Kingdom. King Lear initially comes across as a very flawed character, he is vain, arrogant and egotistical. He devises a 'love-test' as a means of splitting his Kingdom between his three daughters, Gonerill, Regan and Cordelia. The test is based on all daughters making their declarations of love for Lear, and the one with the most impressive speech, would stand to gain the largest share of the Kingdom. LEAR: Which of you shall we say doth love most, That we our largest bounty may extend. Gonerill and Regan both expose their manipulative and devious characters and falsely exaggerate and elaborate in their speeches to King Lear. Cordelia refuses to engage in the love-test and consequently faces the angry wrath of her father, and when Kent also intervenes, the pair are subsequently banished from the
King Lear gold
King Lear shows how Shakespeare adapted a well known fairy tale and turned it into a dark play about family relationships. Choose from the many transcripts and audio files of well known actors and directors discussing how tyranny and rejection between parents and children can lead to extreme cruelty, suffering and madness. Richard Eyre's recent production at the National theatre has been hailed as one of the greatest and most accessible this century. In a frank interview he discusses his interpretation of the play and why it is essentially about families. Q: Why did you decide to direct the play of King Lear? It's a play I've thought about for many years and always felt shy of. It's one of the very first plays that I saw when I started going to the theatre, which was when I was in my late teens. Almost the first professional Shakespeare production I saw was Peter Brook's production of Lear, with Paul Scofield, and it made a very very deep impression on me. The play made a very deep impression because I was doing my A Levels in Sciences, in Physics, Chemistry and Maths, had virtually read no literature, and didn't know the play at all. I knew nothing about the play. I knew it was about an old man who was a king, King Lear, and I was knocked sideways by the production. I suppose it awoke my imagination to the power of the theatre and the power of that play, and the legacy of