King Lear contains themes such as justice, evil, and fate that show Shakespeare’s philosophy. Through the characters’ actions Shakespeare 's philosophies behind these themes becomes evident. The ending of King lear also provides a distinct idea of how Shakespeare feels about these ideas. Justice exists but is not common. Evil is the result of selfish desires. Fate controls someone’s life in correspondence to free will. These three ideas show up multiple times throughout the play which allow the reader to develop the opinion Shakespeare has about them.
Shakespeare believes that justice is served to a few but not many. Justice is the deserved punishment or reward based on one 's actions. Edgar and Edmund both receive justice when Edgar …show more content…
However during the battle Edmund gets justice because he was killed by the one who he deceived while Edgar gets justice because he kills the one who he was deceived by. "My name is Edgar, and thy fathers son. The gods are just and of our pleasant vices make instruments to plague us” (Shakespeare, 235). Edgar says this quote after he has mortally wounded Edmund during the battle. He realizes at this moment that he has finally gotten justice after everything he was put through. Even though Edgar did receive justice, Shakespeare does not believe that everyone will get it. Cordelia is an example of a character who doesn’t get justice. Cordelia dies at the end even though she deserved justice for being honest with her father. Out of all three sisters, Cordelia was the only one who was truthful even though …show more content…
Fate is the ultimate outcome of events. In this play King lear starts out being powerful and respected and ends up being alone, powerless and eventually dead. King Lear realized that he made a dreadful mistake with the way he divided his kingdom. He gave the evil sisters the kingdom because they lied and told him they loved him. “They flattered me like a dog and told me I had white hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there. To say “Ay” and “No” to everything that I said “Ay” and “No” to was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter, when the thunder would not peace at my bidding—there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go to, they are not men o ' their words. They told me I was everything. 'Tis a lie, I am not ague-proof.” (Shakespeare, 191). Lear’s irrational decision was what started this chain of events which led to his fate. He could not control what came after this decision and his free will in the beginning was what ultimately caused his fate at the end. Edmund was another character that despite all his actions, was left to faith at the end. All of Edmund’s choices caught up with him and caused his death in the end. “Th ' hast spoken right; 'tis true. The wheel is come full circle; I am here.” ( Shakespeare, 235) When Edmund is dying he says that everything has come back to him. This quote proves
Shakespeare believes that justice is served to a few but not many. Justice is the deserved punishment or reward based on one 's actions. Edgar and Edmund both receive justice when Edgar …show more content…
However during the battle Edmund gets justice because he was killed by the one who he deceived while Edgar gets justice because he kills the one who he was deceived by. "My name is Edgar, and thy fathers son. The gods are just and of our pleasant vices make instruments to plague us” (Shakespeare, 235). Edgar says this quote after he has mortally wounded Edmund during the battle. He realizes at this moment that he has finally gotten justice after everything he was put through. Even though Edgar did receive justice, Shakespeare does not believe that everyone will get it. Cordelia is an example of a character who doesn’t get justice. Cordelia dies at the end even though she deserved justice for being honest with her father. Out of all three sisters, Cordelia was the only one who was truthful even though …show more content…
Fate is the ultimate outcome of events. In this play King lear starts out being powerful and respected and ends up being alone, powerless and eventually dead. King Lear realized that he made a dreadful mistake with the way he divided his kingdom. He gave the evil sisters the kingdom because they lied and told him they loved him. “They flattered me like a dog and told me I had white hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there. To say “Ay” and “No” to everything that I said “Ay” and “No” to was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter, when the thunder would not peace at my bidding—there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go to, they are not men o ' their words. They told me I was everything. 'Tis a lie, I am not ague-proof.” (Shakespeare, 191). Lear’s irrational decision was what started this chain of events which led to his fate. He could not control what came after this decision and his free will in the beginning was what ultimately caused his fate at the end. Edmund was another character that despite all his actions, was left to faith at the end. All of Edmund’s choices caught up with him and caused his death in the end. “Th ' hast spoken right; 'tis true. The wheel is come full circle; I am here.” ( Shakespeare, 235) When Edmund is dying he says that everything has come back to him. This quote proves