Examples Of Suffering In King Lear

Suffering can come in a variety of forms. The suffering in King Lear is severe as well as being so violent that many characters tested beyond their limits of endurance. Suffering occurs through the most painful acts human beings can do to each other. In King Lear, whether it be the shredding of human flesh, the breaking of human bodies, or even the removal of someone’s eyes, no physical form of suffering is as impactful as the emotional suffering saw in the play. In Shakespeare's King Lear, the characters irrationality leads to their suffering, and ultimately their death. Gloucester, Cordelia, and Lear reach their breaking points by many forces, most notably being themselves. In the play, the characters irrationality derives from their beliefs …show more content…
Lear’s irrationality is his illogical and groundless behaviour of a king that believes he has an unlimited amount of power. However, he loses his authority and is later rendered useless in the eye of states. Lear’s irrationality highlights the flattery and ingenuine love that is so prevalent in the novel. Lear states, “Tell me, my daughters,/ which of you shall we say doth love us most,/ that we our largest bounty may extend, where nature doth with merit challenge?—Goneril, our eldest born, speak first” (1.44-48). Goneril is quick to respond to her father’s question: “Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter” (1.8); however, Cordelia answers: “Nothing my Lord” (1.80). It is this quote that Lear’s irrationality is best represented. He loves Cordelia the most, but because she doesn't meet his irrational expectations, he leaves Cordelia with nothing. He then grants his eldest two daughters their share of the kingdom, and that’s where his suffering begins. Lear first experiences suffering at the hands of his daughters. They aren’t willing to negotiate with him as to the number of servants he may have. They fail to agree and Lear then curses his daughters and stomps his way out. Lear’s daughters are: “A