King Lear Essay, Research Paper

In the King Lear play, Shakespeare creates many conditions in which humans live

in the world. The main characters in the play are used to portray Shakespeare’s

ideas. One of these ideas which Shakespeare is trying to portray is evil between

the characters and in the world which are emphasized throughout the play. The

evil, created by humans, is outweighed by good in the world of King Lear. Evil

was created by humans who decided to do wrong to others. Duke of Albany, said

that all evil people will be justly punished (ACT V, iii, 303). Albany indicated

that it is the people who caused evil and people decided to do evil, not gods.

Lear believes that since Edgar is out on the heath he must have given everything

to his daughters as well (ACT III, iv, 62ff). Since he believes that Edgar gave

everything to evil Lear must believe that people are the cause of evil. It were

Lear’s daughters who decided to do wrong to Lear and it was Lear’s fault in

giving away all of his land. Si ughters are the humans in the play, it is the

humans who caused the evil and Lear believes that humans were the ones who

created evil. Edgar, is another character in the play who believes that evil is

caused by humans and not the gods. Edgar said, "The gods are just, and of

our peasant vices make instruments to plague us" (ACT V, iii, 169). Edgar

clearly says that the gods are right and it is the people who are responsible

for promoting evil in the world. It is us who make the instruments necessary for

evil to spread and plague the world. In the world of King Lear many characters

believe evil was caused by the people and not by the gods.