TITLE King Lear is a play, written by William Shakespeare, that resonates each generation because of the universal themes of life and human nature presented throughout the piece. Shakespeare manages to captivate the modern audience due to his adept ability of story telling, and creating characters that today’s society can relate to. Edmund’s jealousy for a father-son relationship and Kent’s allegiance to his good friend, King Lear, are some characters who show these themes. Although the play was written 411 years ago, it still manages to captivate and intrigue the twenty-first century readers because it comments on family relationships, loyalty, and the status of women which the readers can connect with. Clearly, the play comments on family
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Edgar will inherit all of Gloucester's possessions and power, and Edmund will receive nothing. Illegitimacy vs legitimacy demolishes the father-sons relationships. Edmund ends up deceives his father, and pulls away Gloucester’s admiration and devotion for Edgar, leading up to one of the most destructive family relationships in all of Shakespeare’s plays. Lastly, trust is displayed. This is evident through Gloucester, and his trust between his two sons. Throughout the play Edmund tires to disrupt Edgar’s and his father's relation by having Gloucester misjudge which son to trust. He does this by first fooling his father into thinking his brother Edgar wants to kill him. Edmund forges a letter in which Edgar is plotting their father’s death. This letter causes Edgar to fear his father, and Edmund alerts him to flea from Gloucester, avoiding contact with him. In Act 2, Edmund stages a fight with his brother, and cuts himself, making it look like it was Edgar’s fault. Evidently, all these events cause Gloucester to lose his trust for Edgar. He calls him a villain: “Now, Edmund, where’s the villain?” (2.1.37), and misguides him a coward when Edmund tells him that Edgar ran away: “Bringing the murderous coward to the stake” (2.1.62). Gloucester even turns his people against Edgar when he states, ‘He that conceals him, death” (2.1.65). If anyone tires to help Edgar, and hide him, will lose Gloucester’s trust and will die. Eventually, Gloucester disowns Edgar, and tells Edmund that he will inherit his title and land instead of Edgar, his legitimate
Edgar will inherit all of Gloucester's possessions and power, and Edmund will receive nothing. Illegitimacy vs legitimacy demolishes the father-sons relationships. Edmund ends up deceives his father, and pulls away Gloucester’s admiration and devotion for Edgar, leading up to one of the most destructive family relationships in all of Shakespeare’s plays. Lastly, trust is displayed. This is evident through Gloucester, and his trust between his two sons. Throughout the play Edmund tires to disrupt Edgar’s and his father's relation by having Gloucester misjudge which son to trust. He does this by first fooling his father into thinking his brother Edgar wants to kill him. Edmund forges a letter in which Edgar is plotting their father’s death. This letter causes Edgar to fear his father, and Edmund alerts him to flea from Gloucester, avoiding contact with him. In Act 2, Edmund stages a fight with his brother, and cuts himself, making it look like it was Edgar’s fault. Evidently, all these events cause Gloucester to lose his trust for Edgar. He calls him a villain: “Now, Edmund, where’s the villain?” (2.1.37), and misguides him a coward when Edmund tells him that Edgar ran away: “Bringing the murderous coward to the stake” (2.1.62). Gloucester even turns his people against Edgar when he states, ‘He that conceals him, death” (2.1.65). If anyone tires to help Edgar, and hide him, will lose Gloucester’s trust and will die. Eventually, Gloucester disowns Edgar, and tells Edmund that he will inherit his title and land instead of Edgar, his legitimate