In almost every story since the beginning of human history, storytellers used certain tried and true characterization methods essential to any story: archetypes. Carl Jung first identified these universal archetypes and tropes prevalent in almost every story since The Odyssey. Jung believed that these archetypes existed in the psyches of human beings, which explains why people recognize archetypes so easily when hearing/reading a work of literature. However, as time went on, people noticed these archetypes and fictional works started to look indistinguishably similar. Evident through the archetypal storyline of the “Hero’s Journey”, Joseph Campbell deems that usually all ends well for the primary protagonist. The story of King Lear is an old
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I love your majesty/ According to my bond; no more nor less.”(1.1.91-92) because she wants to be honest to him. She gets banished for her honesty, but her kind and loving personality does not falter, despite the cruelties she undergoes. In addition, the Duke of Albany retains consistent traits throughout the play. According to Stevenson, “[Albany] possesses 'ordinary ' qualities of caution, calmness...qualities [that] cannot survive in the world of King Lear"(33). The characters mentioned are all rejected by others because they stay true to their beliefs, and therefore their archetypal molds. Shakespeare includes these unchanging characters to contrast the more malleable archetypal representations throughout the …show more content…
Therefore, Shakespeare attempts to intermix archetypes long before Carl Jung discovered and noted these aspects as well as enrich them with more layered struggles, as in the case with Goneril and Regan. The pair not only exhibits the behavior of typical temptresses, but also blends a sibling rivalry as they compete for Edmund’s adoration. Shakespeare also twists the Fool’s original archetype(the comic relief) and turns him into Lear 's loyal friend. Shakespeare turned an old tale with a happy resolution into a solemn tragedy that explores complex human themes that defy perceptions of moral upcomings. Ian McKellen said in an interview on the PBS series Shakespeare Uncovered that “King Lear is neither good nor bad, he is simply a man”(10:24). Shakespeare believed it was time for drama to evolve, it was time for a truly human story to be
I love your majesty/ According to my bond; no more nor less.”(1.1.91-92) because she wants to be honest to him. She gets banished for her honesty, but her kind and loving personality does not falter, despite the cruelties she undergoes. In addition, the Duke of Albany retains consistent traits throughout the play. According to Stevenson, “[Albany] possesses 'ordinary ' qualities of caution, calmness...qualities [that] cannot survive in the world of King Lear"(33). The characters mentioned are all rejected by others because they stay true to their beliefs, and therefore their archetypal molds. Shakespeare includes these unchanging characters to contrast the more malleable archetypal representations throughout the …show more content…
Therefore, Shakespeare attempts to intermix archetypes long before Carl Jung discovered and noted these aspects as well as enrich them with more layered struggles, as in the case with Goneril and Regan. The pair not only exhibits the behavior of typical temptresses, but also blends a sibling rivalry as they compete for Edmund’s adoration. Shakespeare also twists the Fool’s original archetype(the comic relief) and turns him into Lear 's loyal friend. Shakespeare turned an old tale with a happy resolution into a solemn tragedy that explores complex human themes that defy perceptions of moral upcomings. Ian McKellen said in an interview on the PBS series Shakespeare Uncovered that “King Lear is neither good nor bad, he is simply a man”(10:24). Shakespeare believed it was time for drama to evolve, it was time for a truly human story to be