This is MY Generation

A huge distinction made in the play King Lear is the difference between the old and the young characters. I think Shakespeare did this parallel to further emphasize the power change from generation to generation.

 The plot of the play is with King Lear and his three daughters; Cordelia, Goneril, and Regan. They are told to profess their love to him so he can divide up the kingdom amongst them in accordance to how much they love him. Lear ends up casting off the only daughter of his that has true love for him, Cordelia, because of his other daughters' trickery. Lear eventually is betrayed by the ones who professed to love him the most.

In the subplot a nobleman, named Gloucester, essentially has the same betrayal from his sons as King Lear had with his daughters. His illegitimate son, Edmund, lies to him and tells him his bastard son, Edmund is out to kill him; which is untrue, and Gloucester ends up becoming physically blinded because of it.

 In Lear's case the kingdom is at stake here. As a political figure Lear should take into consideration how the kingdom will be ruled after he is gone and who will be the best fit for that title, instead of solely basing that decision on who supposedly loves him the most. Once he gives up his authority and political power to Goneril and Regan, he is not important to them anymore; they have what they want and will do what they see fit no matter the cost. At this point Lear should see reason and understand that they only said those professions of devotion and love to him out of greed. Lear however doesn't and starts going crazy as the play progresses.

Gloucester, doesn't hesitate in believing Edmund's accusations of Edgar because Gloucester doesn't think of Edgar as a real son. The actual truth here is Edmund is just greedy and wants his father's status and for him to be out of the way. Gloucester doesn't see the deception right in front of him. Edmund plots against Gloucester and Edgar, and takes sides with Cornwall, Regan's husband, who ends up gouging out Gloucester's eyes. 

It seems that Lear and Gloucester can only 'see' reason when their world have completely fallen apart. Once Lear has gone insane he finally comes back to reality enough to reconcile with Cordelia, yet both of their lives still end tragically. I believe Shakespeare's point in all this was to show that we don't live forever and we pass over power and authority to next generation and once that happens they ultimately have power so it is important to be logical and have reason when doing things and making plans because it may not just affect them, it'll effect others too, and if someone can't do that and aren't wise they and others around them will suffer the consequences. 

About Me!

Hi, I am Melanie! I am a sophomore at OSU.  I am from Grove City and work at the Kohl's there. My major is Exploration right now but I want to major in Communications and will hopefully end up working in television or radio someday. I look forward to working with you all! :)

King Lear's Fool

In the play King Lear, by Shakespeare, the King's Fool disappears from the play entirely in the play in Act III, scene vi. At this point Lear had just been out in the storm rambling about his suffering and then he took shelter with the Fool, Edgar (disguised), Kent (disguised), and Gloucester. Lear is totally insane by this point in the story, and I believe the Fool gives up trying to help Lear and plays into his craziness (e.g. Lear was putting his daughter on trial and the Fool went along with it).
The Fool's role toward 'King Lear was simply, just to make him laugh. However, the Fool would try to help Lear and bring him back to the wise man he once was through verse. I thought of the Fool as Lear's sanity trying to come back to him. The Fool kept trying to show Lear reason and to see the deception from his daughters Goneril and Regan rather than Cordelia. In Act III, scene vi, someone asks who the King and Fool are. The Fool responds with "A wise man and a fool". This made me question at this point in the book who is really the Fool? Lear or the Fool himself? I say Lear, because he has gone completely mad and has exiled the one daughter who truly loved him.