King Lear
In Act 1, Scene 1 Kent says, "See better, Lear."
How does Lear ‘see’ more clearly by Act V Scene 3, and what has led him to this?
of Britain, the ageing protagonist in Shakespeare’s tragic play undergoes radical change as a man, father and king as the plot progresses when forced to bear the repercussions of his actions. Lear is initially portrayed as being an egotistical ruler, relying on protestations of love from his daughters to apportion his kingdom. Lear’s tragic flaw is the division of his kingdom and his inability to see the true natures of people because of his pride while his scathing anger is also shown to override his judgement. He wrongfully disowns his youngest and most ...
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in the play, including his mistreatment of Cordelia. When he does regain sanity, he is a much wiser and enhanced man, father and king.
Kent, one of Lear’s followers, is the first person to directly tell the King that he has made mistakes concerning the partition of his sovereignty. Unlike Lear who shows blindness in judgement and lack of paternal knowledge of his daughters, Kent is able to see through the superficiality of the elder daughters’ confessions of love. He believes that Cordelia is wronged when she receives nothing and is exiled, and condemns the King for his actions "When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom". Kent believes the King is blind of the consequences of his decisions, voicing "See better, Lear". Lear displays intense outrage at Kent, "Come not between the dragon and his wrath", and later says "The bow is bent and drawn; make from the shaft", indicating he does not want his authority to be challenged. Kent is shown to be faithful to Lear by confronting ...
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madness. Goneril, with whom Lear initially resides, complains to him about his train of one hundred "disordered and debauched" knights. This challenge of authority, which Lear is desperate to maintain, infuriates him, because the knights are the last vestiges of his power. After cursing his oldest daughter following her verbal assault against him, Lear storms out of her house, claiming, "Yet I have left a daughter", indicating his other daughter Regan will receive him lovingly. Lear is still shown to be blind to the fact that his two elder daughters are alike in personality, which he will soon discover.
Regan is Lear’s last resort, which is why he is initially hesitant to show the ...
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King Lear. (2006, August 29). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/King-Lear/51555
"King Lear." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 29 Aug. 2006. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/King-Lear/51555>
"King Lear." Essayworld.com. August 29, 2006. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/King-Lear/51555.
"King Lear." Essayworld.com. August 29, 2006. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/King-Lear/51555.
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