“Goodness” in King Lear: A Lesson in Loyalty
Shakespear’s good characters, in the play King Lear, are considered good because they are loyal even when they are disguised from or unrecognizable by those to whom they owe loyalty. In addition, their loyalty does not waver even when they are banished or mistreated by those to whom they are loyal. Cordelia, Edgar and Kent are all characters that exemplify this goodness and unwavering loyalty.
Let us first consider King Lear and his relationship with his daughter Cordelia. When King Lear asks Cordelia to profess her love for him she merely answers that she loves him according to her bond, no more. Enraged, the king banishes her without an inheritance or dowry. Cordelia tries to explain that she will not speak of her love for him in order to get fortunes since this would be deceitful. However, Lear refuses to understand and Cordelia leaves imploring her sisters to care for him.
What makes Cordelia a good character here is not only that she refuses to flatter her father in order to deceive him out of his wealth, but also because she accepts her father’s punishment and leaves willingly even though she knows it is not a just punishment. Additionally, she expresses no animosity toward Lear, instead she asks her sisters to care for him. This unwavering loyalty is also exhibited later in the play when Cordelia finds Lear and she realizes he is mad. She cares for him and gives him medicinal herbs until he is well again. Even when Lear begs for her forgiveness she insists that she has no cause to be offended.
Perhaps the most pure form of loyalty is when it is displayed even when the beneficiary is unaware. When loyalty is expressed in this discrete manner the bestower cannot expect to be repaid for his allegiance. Cordelia displays such discrete loyalty when left alone with her sisters after she is disowned and she expresses the hope that they will love Lear. Even though Cordelia knows Lear does not hear her good wishes for Lear, she nonetheless expresses them. This fact is proof that she displays this pure form of discrete loyalty.
Edgar is the next character who displays loyalty to his father even after he has been outlawed and was forced to hide and disguise himself. Gloucester favors Edgar’s evil half-brother Edmund, who deceives him into believing that it is Edgar who is disloyal. However, after Gloucester’s eyes are plucked out he realizes his mistake when he is told that it is Edmund who has betrayed him. When the blind Gloucester is led to the disguised Edgar, his son agrees to lead him to the cliffs of Dover. In order to prevent his father’s attempted suicide, Edgar stages a scene where he leads his father to believe that he has fallen off the cliffs but has been miraculously saved. Edgar once again defends his father’s life when he prevents Oswald from assassinating him. Through these events Edgar exemplifies loyalty by leading his blind father to safety, even though he had been wrongfully mistreated.
Edgar is not considered a good character merely because he was loyal to his father after he was mistreated by him. He is considered a good character because he was loyal to his father even when he was disguised. Edgar meets his blind father and does not reveal his true identity to him at first. The fact that he was loyal to his father even when he could not be recognized is important because it shows that he expected no reward for his actions.
The Earl of Kent was the next character in the play to display unwavering loyalty. Unduly mistreated by Lear for attempting to advise him of his dreadful mistake, Kent was banished from the King’s presence. Yet, even while banished, Kent searched for a way to remain serviceable and loyal to his King. While disguised as a servant, he expresses his desire to serve Lear and ultimately is chosen to join the royal staff. His loyalty was not wavered by Lear’s unjust treatment.
Kent’s motivations were surely pure in that he desired only to protect his king, and not to be rewarded for his loyalty. Even when Lear could not recognize him in disguise, Kent remained a steadfastly loyal servant and friend. He wanted to be close to the King in order to protect him. He demonstrated that he did not desire a reward for his loyal actions since he remained in disguise and did not reveal his true identity to the King.
King Lear is a play about loyalty. “Goodness” is portrayed by the characters as selflessness. Each “good” character displays loyalty through selfless actions. Cordelia selflessly does not attempt to rob Lear of his wealth by flattering him. Even though she risks banishment, she selflessly refuses to indulge her father’s foolish wishes. Edgar, too, is selfless in his actions by leading his father to safety even when he knows Gloucester does not recognize him and will not appreciate that he was, in fact, the truly loyal son. Finally, Kent, Lear’s Selfless servant, risks his life to protect his king even after he has been mistreated.
32b
Другие работы по теме:
Machiavellian Philosophy In King Lear Essay Research
Paper Machiavelli s ideas influence some of Shakespeare s characters in the play, King Lear. To use the critic A. P. Rossiter s phrase, Shakespeare s plays are about, the survival of the slickest. The characters in King Lear that reflect the Machiavellian philosophy are the two sisters, Goneril and Regan, and the son of Gloucester, Edmund.
Wisdom Does Not Come With Age Essay
, Research Paper Although it is never too late to learn, those lessons learned in old age are often the most difficult and the most costly. Following Lear s dispute with Goneril, the Fool tell him, Thou shoulds t not have been old till thou hads t/ Been wise [I, v, 43-44]. In William Shakespeare s tragedy King Lear, Lear illustrates that wisdom does not necessarily come with age.
King Lear Essay 1 Essay Research Paper
Service and loyalty are big parts of the plot of King Lear. Some characters of this play show complete loyalty and service to the king. One of these is Kent. Throughout the play, Kent is completely loyal to his king, even after the Lear banishes him from the kingdom. This tells me that some people can be loyal to the end.
Cordelia And Lear Essay Research Paper Throughout
Cordelia And Lear Essay, Research Paper Throughout the play, King Lear, we are awaiting to see the reunion of Lear and his daughter Cordelia. In the begining of the play Lear wrongfully 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 a king.
King LearTheme Essay Research Paper Throughout the
King Lear-Theme Essay, Research Paper Throughout the play King Lear, the theme that was well expressed was that of fidelity. It was evident in different relationships such as Kent with King Lear, Cordelia with King Lear, and Edgar with Gloucester.
King Lear
’s Death Essay, Research Paper King Lear’s Death At the end of Shakespeare’s play King Lear, Kent and Edgar survive to be offered their power and titles back so that they can jointly rule with Albany. The title character of the play is not so fortunate. Lear enters carrying the dead body of his loving daughter Cordelia, then collapses and dies beside her.
Good Vs Evil In King Lear Essay
, Research Paper In the King Lear play, Shakespeare creates many conditions in which humans live in the world. The main characters in the play are used to portray Shakespeare’s ideas. One of these ideas which Shakespeare is trying to portray is evil between the characters and in the world which are emphasized throughout the play.
Tragedy Of King Lear Essay Research Paper
Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear are the four most prominent and revered works that William Shakespeare had ever produced, though the first three that I mentioned seem
King Lear Essay Research Paper King LearHumans
King Lear Essay, Research Paper King Lear Humans have qualities such as kindness, consideration, compassion and above all pity. Sometimes, however, human nature can be very primitive, like that of an animal, to act instinctively and without morals and consciousness. Further, it can cause one person to be dreadful toward another.
King Lear Suffering Essay Research Paper King
King Lear: Suffering Essay, Research Paper King Lear: Suffering Suffering takes on many appearances, depending on how it is received. In King Lear, suffering was very painful to two people, and the giver wasn’t
King Lear The Role Of The Fool
Essay, Research Paper King Lear: The Role of the Fool In Shakespeare?s, King Lear, the Fool plays three major roles. One of these roles is of an ?inner-conscience? of Lear. The Fool provides basic wisdom and reasoning for the King at much needed times. The Fool also works as amusement for Lear in times of sadness and is also one of the only people besides the Duke of Kent and Cordelia who are willing to stand up to the King.
King Lear 2 Essay Research Paper Bonds
King Lear 2 Essay, Research Paper Bonds within King Lear Essay submitted by Patrick 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.
King Lear Act 5 Scene 3 Essay
, Research Paper Unseen text-King Lear (The passage is taken from Act 5,scene 3 and only Lear speaks throughout) The thing I find most interesting about the language used in this passage, is the dream like image it creates. I think the amount of contradictive language, used in the passage is also of some note as it creates ambiguity.
Madness In King Lear Act 4 Essay
, Research Paper Madness in King Lear: Act 4 In Shakespeare’s play King Lear, Shakespeare introduces many themes. The most important theme shown in King Lear is the theme of
The Fool In King Lear Essay Research
Paper The Fool is a tremendously substantial character in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, King Lear. Traditionally, fools were the equivalent of court jesters and were thought to be insane. They were customarily physically and sometimes even mentally impaired. Persons became fools as the result of an aristocratic individual’s compassion or boredom.
King LearBlindness Essay Research Paper King Lear
King Lear-Blindness Essay, Research Paper King Lear is in many ways like Nunez in the story The country of the Blind . They are both simliar because they both do not realize that they are both blind in what others think of them. They might think that they are right beacause both of them think that the people around them are inferior because of the way that they appear.
King Lear Motifs Essay Research Paper King
King Lear: Motifs Essay, Research Paper King Lear: Motifs Shakespeare uses many motifs to expand on the themes of the story. His most-used motif revolves around filial responsibility. Each of the two plots contains
Character Analysis In King Lear Essay Research
Paper Cordelia The virtuous daughter whom King Lear mistakenly rejects . knowing she will marry , Cordelia refuses to assert that all of her love will forever go to her father , unlike Regan and Goneril, her hypocritical sisters . Lear mistakes Cordelia’s honesty for a lack of affection and disinherits her , though the king of France recognizes her innate worth and marries her anyway .
King Lear By William Shakespeare 1564
– 1616) Essay, Research Paper Since King Lear’s setting is pre-Christian Britain, some readers chafe under the sort of nihilistic fatalism that colors the characters’ thinking (”As flies to wanton boys we are to the
King Lear4 Essay Research Paper Lear s
King Lear4 Essay, Research Paper Lear s words: I am a man/More sinn d against than sinning. is an expression of Lear s internal anguish and pain, triggered by his two evil daughters Gonerill and Regan. Surely, Lear s statement is to some degree, agreeable, since his sufferings was an result of Gonerill s and Regan s thirst for power, which led to their attack on Lear.
King Lear Essay Research Paper Animal Imagery
King Lear Essay, Research Paper Animal Imagery in King Lear In the play King Lear by William Shakespeare, a collection of images are used to express different points Shakespeare is trying to relay to his audience. One reoccurring image is that of animal images. Shakespeare incorporates these animal images when King Lear and many of the other characters in the play talk about Goneril and Regan and the animals that Lear and the other characters compare the two sisters to are not very pretty.
King Lear Essay Research Paper Imagery in
King Lear Essay, Research Paper Imagery in King Lear (King-Lear) In the immense amount of writing that William Shakespeare had done in hiscareer as a playwright and or writer in general there
King Lear Essay Research Paper King LearIn
King Lear Essay, Research Paper King Lear In the play King Lear written by William Shakespeare a collection of images are used to express different points Shakespeare is trying to relay to his audience. One reoccurring image that kept popping up was animal images. Shakespeare displays these animal images when King Lear and many of the other characters in the play talk about Goneril and Regan.
King Lear Essay Research Paper The ending
King Lear Essay, Research Paper The ending of King Lear has proven itself very controversial in its history. in shakespeare’s other play, the conclusions are simple: Othello kills himself, Macbeth is executed, ans everyone dies in hamlet. lear, however, is not as simple as the preceding, and in fact, leaves many questions unanswered.
A Detailed Commentary On Act 3 Scene
4 Of ‘King Lear’. Essay, Research Paper Write a detailed commentary on the extract taken from Act 3, Scene 4 When we read King Lear for the first time we are presented, on the whole, with a pessimistic view of men and society. In other parts of the play Regan, Gonerill and Edmund define treachery, whereas the character of Kent creates a stark contrast, showing us a strong sense of loyalty by following and supporting Lear throughout his torment.
King Lear The Roles Of The Fool
Essay, Research Paper The Roles of the Fool in King Lear Fools in traditional royal households were seen as imbecils and jesters, nothing more. The older role of a royal fool, which Shakespeare adopted from the pagan setting of King Lear, was to correct minor faults and incongruencies in their masters. By detatching the Fool from a conventional fool’s role, Shakespeare allows for the crowd’s suspention of disbelief in the Fool’s ability to get away with the comments he makes to the King.
Letter As A Dramatic Device In King
Lear Essay, Research Paper William Shakespeare used letters as a dramatic device to reveal the characters? loyalty and betrayal in his play King Lear. The purpose of the letter is to develop the plot and reveal the characters? attributes. Three letters help to develop the plot and reveal the characters of Edmund, Gloucester, Goneril and Albany.
King Lear Play Essay Research Paper In
King Lear (Play) Essay, Research Paper In the play King Lear, Lear reaches old age without achieving any wisdom. This statement is very true, many evidences can be found throughout the acts. For example: Lear is ignorant of the truth, he only hears what he wants to hear and he makes several rash decisions that leads to his downfall.
King Lear Essay Research Paper Many of
King Lear Essay, Research Paper Many of the passages of King Lear, particularly those between the characters of Lear, Kent, the Fool, and Cordelia, all share a common theme. The imagery of nothing, as well as that of blindness, echoes throughout the play. King Lear is in many ways about nothing. However, Kent, the Fool, and Cordelia make him more than nothing does by serving faithfully, speaking bluntly, and loving unconditionally.
Kinglearcompare And Contrast Lear And Cloucester Essay
, Research Paper In The Tragedy of King Lear, King Lear is quite cruel to his loving daughter, Cordelia. Cordelia expresses her true love for her father, and Lear disowns her. Lear makes his three daughters, Cordelia, Regan, and Goneril, tell him how great of a father and king he is, in order to own and rule a part on England.
King Lear Essay Research Paper King LearKing
King Lear Essay, Research Paper King Lear King Lear is the tale of a vain, prideful, and foolish old man who is blinded by his rage and too stubborn to mend his ways. The “self”
King Lear And The Fatal Flaw Essay
, Research Paper How central is the idea of a fatal flaw in King Lear? More than any of Shakespeare s plays, King Lear explores the concept of a fatal flaw and the terrible downfall it could lead to. It is indeed the most central idea in the play. Shakespeare shows us how one flaw in an otherwise normal person can lead to their ultimate demise.