King Lear Research Paper
King Lear – Tragedy Through Transformation
The Elizabethan Age of late 16th century England is considered to be the golden era of Britain, as it was the segue between the struggles of the Catholic and Protestant extremists in early 16th century, and the clashes of parliament and the monarchy of the 17th century. The Protestant Reformation was becoming easily accepted by the people after the repulsion of the Spanish Armada in 1588 and Elizabeth I remained relatively successful in maintaining a peace unknown in France and other European countries. It was during this time that William Shakespeare filled the public theaters with history plays, comedies, and tragedies that explored the themes of nature: man’s morality and social order. In King …show more content…
For Edgar, his exile forced him to pretend to be a mad beggar and his redemption is found when he exposes Edmund as a traitor (Lear 5.3.125-174). Lear, who has exiled Cordelia and Kent for their insubordination, becomes virtually exiled by his daughters when he refuses to submit his power to them and he and his men are turned out into the storm. The raging storm in Act 3 acts as a baptism of sorts for Lear, in which he passes into madness, and later surfaces in Act 4 as finding absolution for exiling his daughter Cordelia (Lear 4.7.85). His transformation is realized in his joy upon reuniting with …show more content…
In his end confrontation with Edmund, Edgar tells the announcing herald “Know, my name is lost” (Lear 5.3.122), then upon defeating Edmund, Edgar forgives his brother, and declares “I am no less in blood than thou art […] my name is Edgar, and thy father’s son” (Lear 5.3.167-169). Thus, Edgar finally assumes Lear’s initial nature of power when he is asked to rule the kingdom with Kent, and Lear finally assumes Edgar’s initial nature of gentility when he dies embracing his daughter. Edgar notes the overall transformation into virtuous character through suffering in the play’s final comments to the
The Elizabethan Age of late 16th century England is considered to be the golden era of Britain, as it was the segue between the struggles of the Catholic and Protestant extremists in early 16th century, and the clashes of parliament and the monarchy of the 17th century. The Protestant Reformation was becoming easily accepted by the people after the repulsion of the Spanish Armada in 1588 and Elizabeth I remained relatively successful in maintaining a peace unknown in France and other European countries. It was during this time that William Shakespeare filled the public theaters with history plays, comedies, and tragedies that explored the themes of nature: man’s morality and social order. In King …show more content…
For Edgar, his exile forced him to pretend to be a mad beggar and his redemption is found when he exposes Edmund as a traitor (Lear 5.3.125-174). Lear, who has exiled Cordelia and Kent for their insubordination, becomes virtually exiled by his daughters when he refuses to submit his power to them and he and his men are turned out into the storm. The raging storm in Act 3 acts as a baptism of sorts for Lear, in which he passes into madness, and later surfaces in Act 4 as finding absolution for exiling his daughter Cordelia (Lear 4.7.85). His transformation is realized in his joy upon reuniting with …show more content…
In his end confrontation with Edmund, Edgar tells the announcing herald “Know, my name is lost” (Lear 5.3.122), then upon defeating Edmund, Edgar forgives his brother, and declares “I am no less in blood than thou art […] my name is Edgar, and thy father’s son” (Lear 5.3.167-169). Thus, Edgar finally assumes Lear’s initial nature of power when he is asked to rule the kingdom with Kent, and Lear finally assumes Edgar’s initial nature of gentility when he dies embracing his daughter. Edgar notes the overall transformation into virtuous character through suffering in the play’s final comments to the