There are multiple reasons as to why authors create the works that they do. Many of the works circulating in the world have fallen victim to intense scrutiny. This is the case with Shakespeare’s King Lear. The reigning question that plagues the minds of readers and scholars alike is: “Is King Lear a satire?” They ponder if the play was written to criticize and humiliate King James I, or whether it was a mere coincidence. Through copious amounts of research, I will explore both sides of this argument and flesh out the truth.
For years upon years, the argument as to whether King Lear is a satire has waged. There are those who believe that is a satire, and those who believe that it is a concurrence. The mass of people who believe King Lear to …show more content…
He states: “...king towards his people is rightly compared to a father and his children…” “(1. KING JAMES I ). In this quote, James is saying that he believes that the relationships that he shares with his people, is parallel to the relationship between a father and his children. His pride is displayed through this quote because a father displays pride in regards to his children’s attitude, appearance, intelligence, etc. James comparing his people to children show that he possess pride in regards to his people. King Lear’s pride is shown through the banishment of Kent in Act 1, Scene 1. Lear states: “Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following, thy banish 'd trunk be found in our dominions, the moment is thy death” (Mabillard). In this quote, Lear is telling Kent that he has ten days to gather his belongings, and manage his affairs. If he is found to still be in the kingdom following ten days, he will be slayed. We witness Lear’s pride in this quote because Kent was only trying to defend Cordelia, which did not please Lear because Cordelia had offended him. Kent questioned Lear’s judgment, …show more content…
The conglomeration of people that believe that King Lear is the product of the combining of stolen works base their argument on several key works: The True Chronicle History of the life and death of King Leir and his three Daughters, Gonorill, Ragan, and Cordella, whose author remains anonymous; Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney; and the true story of Sir Brian Annesley. Many people believe that the stories of Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, Kent, and Lear came from “The True Chronicle History of the life and death of King Leir and his three Daughters, Gonorill, Ragan, and Cordella”, which was printed in 1605. In Act 1, Scene 1 of “The True Chronicle History of the life and death of King Leir and his three Daughters, Gonorill, Ragan, and Cordella” - (King Leir), King Leir wishes to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters, stating: “Than by resigning up the Crown from me, in equal dowry to my daughters three” ("King Leir - Anonymous - Printed 1605." ). To divide his kingdom between his three daughters, he proposes that the daughters each profess their love for him, and whomever’s profession pleases him the most shall receive the largest quantity of land. The declarations of love from Gonorill and Ragan are falsehoods; and are only said to increase the amount of land that they will receive. The asseveration made by Cordella is
For years upon years, the argument as to whether King Lear is a satire has waged. There are those who believe that is a satire, and those who believe that it is a concurrence. The mass of people who believe King Lear to …show more content…
He states: “...king towards his people is rightly compared to a father and his children…” “(1. KING JAMES I ). In this quote, James is saying that he believes that the relationships that he shares with his people, is parallel to the relationship between a father and his children. His pride is displayed through this quote because a father displays pride in regards to his children’s attitude, appearance, intelligence, etc. James comparing his people to children show that he possess pride in regards to his people. King Lear’s pride is shown through the banishment of Kent in Act 1, Scene 1. Lear states: “Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following, thy banish 'd trunk be found in our dominions, the moment is thy death” (Mabillard). In this quote, Lear is telling Kent that he has ten days to gather his belongings, and manage his affairs. If he is found to still be in the kingdom following ten days, he will be slayed. We witness Lear’s pride in this quote because Kent was only trying to defend Cordelia, which did not please Lear because Cordelia had offended him. Kent questioned Lear’s judgment, …show more content…
The conglomeration of people that believe that King Lear is the product of the combining of stolen works base their argument on several key works: The True Chronicle History of the life and death of King Leir and his three Daughters, Gonorill, Ragan, and Cordella, whose author remains anonymous; Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney; and the true story of Sir Brian Annesley. Many people believe that the stories of Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, Kent, and Lear came from “The True Chronicle History of the life and death of King Leir and his three Daughters, Gonorill, Ragan, and Cordella”, which was printed in 1605. In Act 1, Scene 1 of “The True Chronicle History of the life and death of King Leir and his three Daughters, Gonorill, Ragan, and Cordella” - (King Leir), King Leir wishes to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters, stating: “Than by resigning up the Crown from me, in equal dowry to my daughters three” ("King Leir - Anonymous - Printed 1605." ). To divide his kingdom between his three daughters, he proposes that the daughters each profess their love for him, and whomever’s profession pleases him the most shall receive the largest quantity of land. The declarations of love from Gonorill and Ragan are falsehoods; and are only said to increase the amount of land that they will receive. The asseveration made by Cordella is