King Lears Self Discovery Essay - 2112 Words

King Lears Self Discovery Although King Lear is an estimable monarch, as revealed by the devotion of men such as Kent, he has serious character flaws. His power as king has encouraged him to be proud and impulsive, and his oldest daughters Regan and Goneril reflect that The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash... and that he hath ever but slenderly known himself (1.1.297-298, 295-296). When Lear decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, Cordelia, Goneril, and Regan in order to have less responsibility in his old age, he creates a situation in which his eldest daughters gain authority over him and mistreat him. Lear is unable to cope with his loss of power and descends into madness. While†¦show more content†¦In this rash action he sets himself up for the complete loss of power that drives him to madness. Lear has the opportunity to rethink his impulsive decision and change his mind, but in his pride he is too stubborn to admit that he might have used poor judgment in giving power to his eldest daughters. Cordelia fruitlessly implores the king to see why she was unable to express her love and also gives a veiled warning as to the integrity of her sisters when she states ...I want that glib and oily art/ To speak and purpose not, since what I well intend/ Ill dot before I speak (1.1.226-228). Also, Kent, his closest adviser, implores him to recant his vow and warns him that his pride is dictating his actions when he asks, Thinkst thou that duty shall have dread to speak/ When power to flattery bows? (1.1.148-149). However, on both occasions Lear ignores the wisdom that these characters speak and brushes off their statements with insults against them for contesting his authority. After disowning Cordelia, he exiles Kent for speaking out of place. Lear reveals the extremity of his r ashness as he punishes the two people who have consistently loved him and looked out for his well-being for small infractions. In removing these people from his life, he increases the power of the untrustworthy elder sisters, and makes an already bad situation worse. Lear states to the eldest sisters in his agreement to give them his land that hisShow MoreRelatedDramatic Scene Illustrated in Shakespeares King Lear - Storm Scene891 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s King Lear offers its audience an impossible number of dramatic and memorable scenes, but I have chosen the storm scenes in Act III Scenes 1, 2 and 4 as my key dramatic scenes. The storm provides a dramatic centre to the play. It is used to bring about change, to represent Lear’s inner unrest, to symbolise the power of nature and to expose the play’s characters under the intolerant conditions of thunder and lightning. 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