C.S. Lewis once said “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust”. Throughout history, humans have asked many philosophical questions, including the existence of divine justice. This concept was significant throughout the Elizabethan era, as religion played a major role in ordinary life. In the play ‘King Lear’, Shakespeare mandates that as opposed to justice being divinely ordained, it is up to humans to administer justice in this world. Shakespeare utilizes unfair punishment, character epiphanies, wrongly rewarded characters and the absence of justice to demonstrate that it is up to humankind to deliver justice.
Shakespeare utilizes characters who have been unfairly punished as a means to get across that justice …show more content…
For example, after Cornwall gouges out Gloucester 's eyes, a servant angrily retaliates by saying that “[he’ll] never care what wickedness [he does], if Cornwall comes to good” (3.7 120). The servant doesn’t see justice happening anywhere, and threatens to fight for what he thinks is right. Shakespeare is communicating that it is in man’s power to administer justice, without the help of the gods. Furthermore, Lear realizes that he has “ta’en too little care” of the poor, and makes a vow to “show the heavens more just” (3.4 35-36 39). Lear becomes fully aware that no divine force is helping the poor, and that it was in his power as king to help them. Shakespeare uses this to exhibit that justice is administered by the morally just actions of humans.Finally, when Edgar challenges Edmund to a duel, he states “thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine” (5.3 135). Instead of conforming to the situation Edmund has placed him in, Edgar stands up for what he thinks is morally right. Although the wrongs of the world have been thrust upon him, Edgar realizes that it is in his power to administer justice. The realizations of misfortuned characters are used by Shakespeare to communicate that it is in man’s power to perform morally just
Shakespeare utilizes characters who have been unfairly punished as a means to get across that justice …show more content…
For example, after Cornwall gouges out Gloucester 's eyes, a servant angrily retaliates by saying that “[he’ll] never care what wickedness [he does], if Cornwall comes to good” (3.7 120). The servant doesn’t see justice happening anywhere, and threatens to fight for what he thinks is right. Shakespeare is communicating that it is in man’s power to administer justice, without the help of the gods. Furthermore, Lear realizes that he has “ta’en too little care” of the poor, and makes a vow to “show the heavens more just” (3.4 35-36 39). Lear becomes fully aware that no divine force is helping the poor, and that it was in his power as king to help them. Shakespeare uses this to exhibit that justice is administered by the morally just actions of humans.Finally, when Edgar challenges Edmund to a duel, he states “thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine” (5.3 135). Instead of conforming to the situation Edmund has placed him in, Edgar stands up for what he thinks is morally right. Although the wrongs of the world have been thrust upon him, Edgar realizes that it is in his power to administer justice. The realizations of misfortuned characters are used by Shakespeare to communicate that it is in man’s power to perform morally just