Richard Ii Vs Lear Ii Essay, Research Paper

From the very opening of the play when Richard III enters “solus”, the protagonist’s isolation is made clear. Richard’s

isolation progresses as he separates himself from the other characters and breaks the natural bonds between Man and nature through his efforts to gain power.

The first scene of the play begins with a soliloquy, which emphasizes Richard’s physical isolation as he appears alone as he speaks to the audience. This idea of physical isolation is heightened by his references to his deformity, such as “rudely stamp’d…Cheated of feature by Dissembling Nature, deformed, unfinished. This deformity would be an outward indication

to the audience of the disharmony from Nature and viciousness of his spirit. As he hates “the idle pleasures of these days” and speaks of his plots to set one brother against another, Richard seems socially apart from the figures around him, and perhaps regarded as an outsider or ostracized because of his deformity. His separation from is family is emphasized when he says “Dive, thought’s down to my soul” when he sees his brother approaching. He is unable to share his thought with his own family as he is plotting against them. Thus, we are given hints of his physical, social and spiritual isolation which is developed throughout the play. But despite these hints, he still refers to himself as part of the House of York, shown in the repeated use of “Our”.

The concept of Richard’s physical isolation is reinforced in his dealings with Anne in Act I scene ii. She calls him “thou lump of foul deformity” and “fouler toad” during their exchange. Despite these insults, she still makes time to talk to Richard, and by the end of their exchange, she has taken his ring and been “woo’d” by him. After Richard has successfully gained the throne, he isolates himself when he asks the crowd to “stand all apart” in Act IV scene ii. And later, when Richard dreams, he is completely alone. Physical isolation in Richard’s deformity wins sympathy from the audience as we pity his condition. But Richard uses his deformity as a tool against the other characters, to portray them as victimizing Richard. Thus the sense of tragedy is lessened by his own actions, even though his isolation may become greater as the play progresses.

Richard’s psychological isolation is conveyed through his lack of conscience in his murderous acts. Nowhere does he feel remorse for his murders, until Act V scene iii when he exclaims “Have mercy Jesu!” and “O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!”. In this turning point, Richard’s division from his own self is made clear from “I and I”, and “Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am!” He has conflicting views of himself and realizes that “no creature” loves him, not even himself. We also never the “real” mind of Richard, for he is always playing a role, of a loving brother to Clarence, a lover to Anne or a victim to the others. We feel sympathy for Richard as he awakes in a vulnerable position and for the first time

acknowledges the evil that he has done. But as he only reveals his feelings of guilt in the last act of the play, we do not see him in internal turmoil and thus the sense of psychological tragedy cannot be built upon.

Socially, Richard is isolated from both the upper and lower classes of society. In Act I scene iii, Richard sarcastically calls Elizabeth “sister”, and she contemptuously calls him “Brother of Gloucester” making a mockery of familial bonds. Margaret calls him “cacodemon” and “devil”, and any unity that the characters have on stage is temporary and superficial. In act III, the citizens are said to be “mum” and “deadly pale”, which gives a sense of quiet opposition to Richard’s activities. Richard is thus separated from all around him. Temporarily, we see Richard and Buckingham share a kind of bond, as Richard calls him “My other self”, “My Oracle” and “My prophet”. But they part when Buckingham hesitates to kill the young princes when Richard says “I wish the bastards dead”. This is the only time the audience sees Richard act with any other

man, but we realize that it is for purely political purposes and that the union exists only while Buckingham remains useful to

him. Our sympathy for Richard is limited as we see that he has no true friendships, and does not genuinely care for his

family or friends. Thus even in his increasing isolation the sense of tragedy upon his death is not really saddening to the

audience as there is no real sense of waste at his loss.

Richard isolates himself from God, as he claims to be above God’s law and only uses religion as a tool to appear holy

before he is King. But ironically, although he breaks the bonds between man and Nature, he is a tool of Divine Justice as

he kill those who were sinners, for example Clarence who recalls his horrible dream and realizes his guilt early in the play.

As the murders accumulate so does his separation from God, and the need for his death increases. But being closer to his

death brings him closer and closer to being with God. Thus although Richard may not realize it, he is never too far from

God.

But Richard does not increasingly isolate himself from the audience. From our omniscient position, we share in Richard’s

wit, sarcasm, and the dramatic irony brought about when other characters are not fully aware of the implication of his

words. Richard also shares his feelings with us, although he is not always truthful. But the fact that he enjoys his villainy to

such a great extent, and feels no remorse for his murders reduces him to a figure of Vice, and is not really seen to be a

tragic figure of great proportions.

In his killing, we see the guilt of Clarence, King Edward, Rivers, Hastings Buckingham and Lady Anne exposed before

their deaths, along with all those who die. Thus their deaths are necessary and the audience remembers that. Also, the

deaths appear off-stage, which lessens the impact of their deaths.

The most poignant part of the play occurs in seeing the young princes talk happily and innocently to their uncle and “Lord

Protector”. York says “I shall not sleep quiet in the Tower”, and we pity them, as they are young and afraid, and are

forced to go there because, as the Prince says, “My Lord Protector needs will have it so”. The children had appeared

happy , and the Prince had shown wit and intelligence in his conversation with his uncle. This appears to be the greatest

tragic loss in the play, which is heightened because of their youth and innocence. The tragedy of the protagonist is felt

because of his attractiveness as a villain and as someone who is not constrained by the rules of society. However, the

audience never forgets that he is wicked and therefore we cannot feel a sense of great loss of potential or waste in his

death.

Many literary techniques are used to emphasize the theme of the Shakespearean play “King Lear.” The dramas’ theme is blindness, both mentally and physically, to the

truth. In King Lear, the techniques of imagery, foreshadowing, and irony help to reinforce the drama’s theme that people are blind to the truth.

Imagery is used frequently and helps to create a vivid image for the audience. “Now all the plagues that in the pendulous air hang fated over men’s faults lights on thy

daughters.” This quote uses imagery because part of the quote is “lights on thy daughters” which shows how Lear’s daughters don’t love him except for Cordelia, who

does. Another example of imagery, is when Cornwall stomps out Gloucester’s eyes. When Gloucester realizes his mental and figurative blindness, Cornwall physically

blinds him. At the end of the play, everyone betrays everyone else. This is an example of imagery because the characters are also betrayed mentally by one another.

Foreshadowing also enhances the idea of figurative blindness because the character’s actions are hinted at before they actually occur. “I’ve escaped the pursuit therefore

to survive I’ll disguise myself as a crazy, dirty, beggar.” Edgar, by dressing so poorly, is foreshadowing that he will have to do a “dirty” deed, which is killing his brother,

Edmund, at the end of the play. In act 2, scene 4 the fool is telling Lear that poor fathers treat their children badly, when rich fathers make their children happy, but Lear’s

children were still unhappy and wrong, even if he was rich. The fool was trying to tell King Lear that there was trouble amongst his daughters. This is an example of

foreshadowing because the trouble the fool was telling Lear about could and did turn into something much more serious. “Never! I was king, but I gave away my

kingdom. The storm is my master now.” This quote demonstrates foreshadowing because the way Lear is babbling, and talking about the storm, can mean that he is going

crazy.

A third literary technique, irony, underscores the theme of the play. “?You’ll say they are Persian; but let them be changed.” This is a comment made about Edgar’s

messy, old clothes in act 3, scene 6. The comment is ironic because the word Persian usually refers to something beautiful and colorful. “Away and let me die.” This quote

was made by Gloucester in act 4, scene 6. He was speaking to Edgar who had led him to a hill to jump from, but Gloucester expected to jump from a cliff. The quote is

an example of dramatic irony because the audience knows that Gloucester is only jumping from a small hill, but since he is blind, he thinks he is jumping from a mighty

cliff. In act 1, scene 1 Lear says, “?Give me the map there. Know that we have divided in three our kingdom?to shake all cares and business from our age conferring

them on younger strengths?” This is another example of dramatic irony because the audience knows that giving his kingdom to his daughters is a bad idea on King Lear’s

part. They know that Goneril and Reagan will betray Lear, but Lear is not yet aware of this fact.

The use of imagery, foreshadowing, and irony significantly develop the play’s central theme of physical and figurative blindness.

Bibliography

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