King Lear Essay, Research Paper

The play of “King Lear” is about a person in search of their own personal identity. In the historical period in which this play is set, the social structure was set in order of things closest to Heaven. Therefore, on Earth, the king was at the top, followed by his noblemen and going all the way down to the basest of objects such as rocks and dirt. This structure was set up by the people, and by going by the premise that anything that is man made is imperfect, this system cannot exist for long without conflict.

Through tattered clothes small vices do appear;

Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,

And the strong lance of justice hurtles breaks; (IV, vi).

The chaos that occurs in “King Lear” is due the reshaping of bonds within the society. Thus naturally, bonds must be broken, kept and most importantly, formed. This rearrangement of bonds is necessary to Lear understanding his personal identity. Bonds that are broken include those relations between King Lear and his two eldest daughters (Regan and Goneril), between Glouster and Edmund and also between Edmund and Edgar. Lear and Cordelia; Lear and Kent; Glouster and Edgar include those bonds that are existent at both the beginning and conclusion of the play. By the ending of the play, Lear is able to come to terms with himself and with nature.

For the rearrangement of the bonds, it is necessary that those based on money, power, land, and deception be to abandoned. In the case of Lear and Goneril and Regan, his two daughters have deceived their father for their personal gain. Furthermore, they had not intended to keep the bond with their father once they had what they wanted. Goneril states “We must do something, and i’ th’ heat.” (I, i, 355), meaning that they wish to take more power upon themselves while they can. By his two of his daughters betraying him, Lear was able to gain insight that he is not as respected as he perceives himself to be. The relationship broken between Edmund his half- bother, Edgar and father, Glouster is similarly deteriorated in the interest of material items. By the end of the play, Edgar has recognized who is brother really is and when he has confronted him says “the more th’ hast wronged me… The dark and vicious place where thee he got/ Cost him his eyes.” (V, iii, 203- 207). Since these bonds were all based on material items, they were not genuine therefore could not hold in the rearrangement of bonds.

Throughout the play some bonds remain true. Lear at first disowns Cordelia because he does not get the flattery from her that he wishes to hear. However, through much torment after he is reduced to nothing, Lear realizes that he cannot always get what he wants just because he is king.

Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia,

The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?

He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven

And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes. (V, iii, 22- 26)

Tough the two were not in communication through the majority of the play, they still had love for each other and by the end of the play, their bond is reformed. The breaking and reforming of Lear and Cordelia’s bond is similar to that of Lear and Kent’s bond. Throughout the play their bond remains true, only Lear is not aware of it. Even after Lear has passed away, Kent states, “I have a journey, sir, shortly to go/ My master calls me; I must not say no.” (V, iii, 390- 391), thus proving that even in Lear’s death he remains loyal. The bonds that are present at both the beginning and ending of the play have the consistent elements of loyalty and love.

Through the reforming of relationships Lear gains insight which allows him to come to terms with himself and nature. Throughout the play Lear experiences much torment and punishment from nature, for unnaturally giving up his power:

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow!

You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout

Till you have drenched our steeples, (drowned) the

cocks.

Your sulph’ rous and thought- executing fires,

Vaunt- couriers of oak- cleaving thunderbolts,

Singe my white head. And thou, all- shaking

Thunder (III, ii, 1-8).

Lear has difficulties accepting his fate he believes he is “More sinned against than sinning” (III, ii, 62-63). It is not until he accepts his fate and comes to terms will himself that he is at peace. By the end of the play Lear is humbled and just happy that he has the love of Cordelia.

The reshaping of bonds within Lear’s Kingdom was necessary for Lear coming to terms with himself. Throughout the play those relationships that were based on deception and material goods were broken while those bonds based on loyalty and love were present at the beginning and at the end of the play. Most importantly Lear is able to build a bond with nature which allows him to come to terms with himself. At the conclusion of the play the lesson has been learned, “Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say” (V, iii, 392)

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