King Lear Research Paper
Ideas of being Human in King Lear.
This essay will discuss the ideas of being human presented in Shakespeare’s King Lear and the variety of representations achieved through characterisation and the presentations of themes.
King Lear manifests as a thought-provoking and philosophical play through its representation of multi-faceted characters who are at times self-obsessed and preoccupied with contemplating their status in life and the significance in the world. For many characters, the plot involves a journey of self-discovery which culminates in them being reconciled to what is essential is human.
At the beginning of the play, the audience is presented with a Court which is criticised by Gloucester’s illegitimate son Edmund, as being full …show more content…
Knowing and seeing become two prominent themes in the play and the characters who are initially presented as “fops” are stripped of all their material wealth and taken down to the barest facets of human representation, until they are little more than beasts. The reversal of the natural order is another key theme in this respect as those in the highest ranks of power and status are reduced to “nothing”, which is a consequence of Lear’s active decision to concede his throne to his …show more content…
It is as though the essence of his being resides in the number of knights at is command, but Shakespeare exposes that by renege his responsibilities, he has no need of them. The riotous behaviour of the knights in Act 1 symbolise Lear’s displacement and descent into chaos, but Lear would rather be banished than lose such symbols of status. Ironically, it is his stubbornness and vanity that set him on the path of self-discovery and towards being able to empathise with each living component of the world. Once cast out onto a heath in a storm, Lear’s closest companions are a fool and later, Edgar disguised as a madman. The fool, however, transpires as a wise mentor and Tom O’ Bedlam transpires to be the one who exposes Edmund’s treachery and restores the natural order. In these characters there is a strong representation of the theme of things not being what they seem, reflecting a wisdom in madness which eventually leads to
This essay will discuss the ideas of being human presented in Shakespeare’s King Lear and the variety of representations achieved through characterisation and the presentations of themes.
King Lear manifests as a thought-provoking and philosophical play through its representation of multi-faceted characters who are at times self-obsessed and preoccupied with contemplating their status in life and the significance in the world. For many characters, the plot involves a journey of self-discovery which culminates in them being reconciled to what is essential is human.
At the beginning of the play, the audience is presented with a Court which is criticised by Gloucester’s illegitimate son Edmund, as being full …show more content…
Knowing and seeing become two prominent themes in the play and the characters who are initially presented as “fops” are stripped of all their material wealth and taken down to the barest facets of human representation, until they are little more than beasts. The reversal of the natural order is another key theme in this respect as those in the highest ranks of power and status are reduced to “nothing”, which is a consequence of Lear’s active decision to concede his throne to his …show more content…
It is as though the essence of his being resides in the number of knights at is command, but Shakespeare exposes that by renege his responsibilities, he has no need of them. The riotous behaviour of the knights in Act 1 symbolise Lear’s displacement and descent into chaos, but Lear would rather be banished than lose such symbols of status. Ironically, it is his stubbornness and vanity that set him on the path of self-discovery and towards being able to empathise with each living component of the world. Once cast out onto a heath in a storm, Lear’s closest companions are a fool and later, Edgar disguised as a madman. The fool, however, transpires as a wise mentor and Tom O’ Bedlam transpires to be the one who exposes Edmund’s treachery and restores the natural order. In these characters there is a strong representation of the theme of things not being what they seem, reflecting a wisdom in madness which eventually leads to