King Lear 3 Essay, Research Paper

King Lear’s adventure certainly brings about the fact that circumstances are not in our control. Lear was a man of strength who not only wanted good lives to reside in his family, but also throughout his kingdom. He had total faith in his three daughters to follow in his footsteps and take part in controlling their own sections of his kingdom. Who would ever think that a great king such as Lear would have the drastic circumstance of losing his three daughters? Were their deaths really his fault when he requested to have Cordelia banished since she would not profess her love to him? King Lear losing his three daughters was probably the greatest tragedy that occurs to a parent, king or not.

King Lear’s punishment could be seen as a simple problem that was blown totally out of proportion in many ways. This tragedy went totally against Socrates’ beliefs, which were, “If we conduct our lives reasonably and morally, we shall live a good life.” This story shows that is really does not matter how good or evil you are throughout your life, there will always be things that occur that are never under your control whether they are negative or positive. King Lear’s decision was never foreshadowed to have a negative affect on his family or his kingdom. Who would ever think that Lear would end up standing around Goneril and Regan lying dead on the floor while holding his other daughter Cordelia dead in his hands. You can almost call it fate in a way since the most common term for uncontrollable destiny is known as that. Fate could also be seen in a negative aspect, like this episode here in which a great man loses everything he has worked for. Your destiny is not anything you can just read in a book and find out so you know how to conduct your life. Your life is a risk almost, a game where you pick the best path that fits you and sometimes the ending does not end up in your favor. For King Lear, his paths definitely did not lead him to perfect happiness, but it did teach him one strong value and that is to never give up on a family member no matter what they say or do. Lear did not even give Cordelia a second look when she did not profess his love to him at the reading of his “living will”. Lear is just another classic example that everyone makes mistakes, but some are just greater than others. Not only greater, but Lear realized that your fate is never in your hands no matter what path you take. Cordelia loved her father, as any daughter should, no more or no less. Did Lear know that? If he did do you think he would have made this drastic decision that cost his three daughters their lives?

King Lear was a great tragedy that basically teaches a lesson that circumstances happen beyond your control. When you live your life, you take risks everyday and every time you make a decision. The whole trick is the mystery to all who lives and that mystery is, what will happen as a result to this? Lear was a great man who wanted nothing but greatness for everyone around him, especially his daughters. He loved his daughters with great heart or he would have not been giving his life long development to them with all faith and trust. Lear learned a great lesson that he must build off of. Death makes people realize that some things happened totally out of our control. People’s lives will come to an end no matter what decision they make or how great and prestigious they lives are. Lear had to prove to himself that every person, even the greatest ones, make mistakes, but these mistakes are uncontrollable. We are all at risk, no matter who we are or what we do. King Lear and his story basically sum up Socrates’ false belief, which is, “Does a good person necessarily live a morally meritorious life?”