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King Lear: Villainous Characters vs Virtuous Ones - Online Paper

King Lear: Villainous Characters vs Virtuous Ones

King Lear: Villainous Characters vs Virtuous Ones

"In King Lear the villainous characters hold more fascination for the audience than the virtuous ones." Discuss this statement with reference to at least one villainous and one virtuous character. Support your answer with suitable reference to the text.

Both villainous and virtuous characters hold fascination for the audience throughout the play `King Lear'. However, I would have to disagree that the sinful characters are much more engaging than the honourable characters. The good characters remained loyal and are portrayed as true heroes, therefore the audience holds a place in their heart for them. Where as the wicked, villainous ...

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as he shamelessly pits his daughters against each other and immediately we are intrigued in Lear's shallow, self-serving character. When Cordelia fails to confess her love to her father, `I cannot heave/ my heart into my mouth', Lear's inherent arrogance comes shocking to the fore. The audience are horrified by Lear's vengeance as he banishes her from the kingdom and leaves her with nothing, `My sometime daughter.' His complete lack of empathy at this point in the play confirms to us that he is a villainous character and only adds to our intrigue. Lear is also seen as a wicked character when his oldest and dearest friend, Kent tries to stand up for what is right and Lear banishes him. `Out of my sight!' This erratic behaviour adds to our allurement of his character as we never know what to expect from him.
Edmund's character is undeniably one of the most outrageous and conniving characters in the play. We are first introduced to Edmund in Act one Scene two when he forges ...

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King Lear: Villainous Characters vs Virtuous Ones. (2021, February 20). Retrieved January 22, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/King-Lear-Villainous-Characters-vs-Virtuous/107622

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 2/20/2021 10:56:07 AM
Submitted By: Ana1209
Category: Shakespeare
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1063
Pages: 4

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