The tragedy of King Lear, written by William Shakespeare in the seventeenth century, comprises a lot of informative topics that are still relevant today. For example, Foakes is fascinated by the diversity of the play’s themes saying, “[i]t is unsparing in its depiction of human cruelty and misery, but also rich in its portrayals of goodness, devotion, loyalty and self-sacrifice” (1). He adds that “…its language and its imagery, have encountered many to see the play in terms of universal values, as a kind of objective correlative for the spiritual journey through [the] life of [the] suffering Man” (Foakes 1997, 1). Foakes is insisting that the main plot and the sub-plot of the tragic heroes, known as Lear and Gloucester, are worth considering because both comprise many tragic events. First of all, the main plot for the character, Lear, should be regarded because it seems to be more tragic and complex. Reading the tragedy, it becomes obvious that Lear, throughout the play, undergoes a gradual development of his identity. The way he experiences this change is important to follow, because it gives the readers a better insight into his changing personality.
First, Lear´s true identity will be represented in this paper through the abdication scene and banishment of Cordelia: “[t]he proud and egotistical king of the first scene, who cannot tell the difference between love and flattery…” (Green 1992, 171) unfairly divides his kingdom between his three daughters. Secondly, Lear´s wandering in search of self will be shown after being dishonoured by his ungrateful daughters in the storm scene. After losing his power, his daughters, and his house, Lear begins to lose his mind, and in trying to find the reason of his suffering becomes mad. Finally, Lear´s ripeness will be introduced after his meeting with Gloucester and reconciliation with Cordelia. Now Lear gets a new insight into himself, finds an answer to his madness, repents, and reveals himself to his banished daughter. So, this paper will show that insensible Lear, who values his authority above all, learns to understand the true feelings and to be human only after going through the grievous journey from the loss of his status as king, through his sufferings, to self-knowledge and self-revelation. A more precise understanding of these subjects will be introduced in the next pages.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Foolishness and Weakness of the Old King
3. Oncoming Insanity
4. Suffering of Lear
5. Lear´s Self-Revelation
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
Research Objectives & Themes
This paper examines the gradual psychological development and identity transformation of King Lear throughout Shakespeare's tragedy, focusing on how his loss of power and status leads to madness, suffering, and eventual self-revelation.
- The impact of Lear's initial hubris and rejection of sincere affection.
- The correlation between Lear's loss of authority and the onset of his mental breakdown.
- The symbolic significance of the storm and his encounter with Poor Tom.
- Lear's eventual path toward reconciliation and understanding of true human values.
Excerpt from the Book
4. Suffering of Lear
Lear´s weakness progresses in the third Act, as he is more and more immersed in his thoughts about his unkind daughters. Now Lear is unable to withstand his repressed feeling of being dishonoured, and he finally recognizes his suffering, which continues in the storm scene. When wandering on the heath, Lear addresses Nature and proclaims in a rage:
And thou, all-shaking thunder,
Strike flat the thick rotundity o´th´world
Crack nature´s moulds, all germens spill at once,
That make ingrateful man… (3.2.6-9)
His speech mirrors his struggle against Nature, to which “... he is not only the almost satanic enemy …, cursing it in its entirety; but also its victim” (Holloway 1969, 196). From this point on, “Lear has fallen [to the ground] from being the minion of Fortune …to being its chief victim” (Holloway 1961, 187). He is obsessed with the thought that he is not a powerful king any more, but a simple beggar. Additionally, through his downfall, he is ready to believe who he really is:
Here I stand your slave,
A poor, infirm, weak and despised old man… (3.2.19-20)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the analysis, focusing on Lear’s identity development from a proud king to a man reaching self-revelation through suffering.
2. Foolishness and Weakness of the Old King: This section explores Lear's initial irrational decisions in dividing his kingdom and his misplaced reliance on flattery over genuine love.
3. Oncoming Insanity: This chapter details how Lear's loss of status and the betrayal by his daughters trigger a psychological crisis and the beginning of his mental instability.
4. Suffering of Lear: This section analyzes Lear's descent into madness during the storm scene and his recognition of his own vulnerability and human condition.
5. Lear´s Self-Revelation: This chapter traces Lear’s path to recovery, highlighting his recognition of Gloucester and the eventual, though tragic, reconciliation with Cordelia.
6. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the evolution of Lear's character, arguing that his journey through suffering and madness is essential for his ultimate maturity and self-discovery.
7. Bibliography: This chapter provides the list of academic sources and critical texts used for the analysis of the play.
Keywords
King Lear, William Shakespeare, Identity, Madness, Suffering, Self-revelation, Authority, Cordelia, Tragic Hero, Psychology, Filial Ingratitude, Reconciliation, Humanism, Power, Redemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this academic paper?
The paper explores the psychological transformation and character development of King Lear as he descends from a position of absolute power into madness and finally achieves a degree of self-awareness.
What are the primary thematic fields discussed?
The central themes include the nature of royal authority, the impact of filial ingratitude, the link between psychological stability and social status, and the redemptive power of suffering and reconciliation.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to demonstrate how Lear's journey—from his initial hubris and rejection of Cordelia to his eventual breakdown—serves as a necessary process for him to understand his true identity and the value of human connection.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The paper utilizes a qualitative literary analysis approach, drawing upon established Shakespearean scholarship and critical theory to interpret the character arc within the text.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides a chronological analysis of Lear's decline, starting from his foolish division of the kingdom, through the onset of his insanity and suffering in the storm, to his final moments of clarity and tragic death.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The most relevant keywords include King Lear, identity, madness, suffering, self-revelation, tragedy, and reconciliation.
How does the author interpret Lear's madness in the later acts?
The paper suggests that while Lear’s mind is severely weakened, his madness acts as a painful bridge to self-discovery, allowing him to strip away his false royal pretenses and perceive himself as a human being subject to mortality.
What is the significance of the "Poor Tom" encounter for Lear?
The encounter with Edgar as "Poor Tom" is crucial because Lear identifies with the beggar's nakedness, viewing it as a mirror for his own loss of power and status, which further drives his progression toward complete mental collapse.
How is the ending of the play characterized by the author?
The author concludes that the ending is bitterly ironic, as Lear's moments of true self-revelation and love for Cordelia occur only in the context of her death, rendering his hard-won understanding of the world a final, tragic realization.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Alina Müller (Autor:in), 2011, Development of Lear´s Character in Shakespeare´s Tragedy 'King Lear', München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/182420
