Similarities between four characters and two families are prevalent throughout William Shakespeare’s King Henry and King Lear. The similarities between the characters and families shows how both plays can be compared in terms of character function, theme, and plot device. The comparisons demonstrate King Henry and King Lear’s demanding attributes, King Lear’s knight and Hotspur’s ability to recognize that their friends are not being treated respectfully, and the beginnings of feuds between the Percy family against King Henry and Goneril against King Lear. King Henry and King Lear parallel each other regarding their egotistical attitude as they both rudely command others around. King Henry commands Worcester to “get thee gone”(KH 1.3.14),
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This shows how King Henry is self-centered as he rudely orders Worcester to get out. King Henry also says to Worcester, “you have good leave to us: when we need your use and counsel, we shall send for you” (KH 1.3.19-20), implying that Worcester must leave, and whenever King Henry needs Worcester, he will just call for him to come. This too demonstrates how King Henry believes he is the center of the world as he can command people to leave, and then when he feels he needs someone to come he will order them to come to his aid. Similarly, King Lear asks Oswald who he is and Oswald replies “my lady’s father” (KL 1.4.81). This infuriates King Lear as he expects everyone to refer to him as King even though he no longer holds power. He curses at Oswald calling him a “whoreson dog”, “slave”, and “cur” (KL 1.4.83) which shows how self-centered he is because he insults someone when they do not respect him as he would like to be …show more content…
Hotspur is furious at King Henry for calling Mortimer a traitor. Hotspur stands up for Mortimer by saying, “nor never could the noble Mortimer receive so many...let him not be slandered with revolt” (KH 1.3. 108-110) showing how Hotspur is being a loyal friend to Mortimer as he calls him noble and believes that he should not be pressed with treason. By King Lear’s knight mentioning to King Lear that he believes “there’s a great abatement of kindness… in the general dependants as in the duke himself also, and [his] daughter” (KL 1.4.60-62) demonstrates how he is looking out for King Lear. The knight is concerned that the servants, Goneril, and the Duke of Albany are treating him with a lack of respect, thus, they are not treating King Lear like a friend which worries the knight. By both Hotspur and King Lear’s knight sticking up for their friends, it shows how they are similar in that they are being loyal
This shows how King Henry is self-centered as he rudely orders Worcester to get out. King Henry also says to Worcester, “you have good leave to us: when we need your use and counsel, we shall send for you” (KH 1.3.19-20), implying that Worcester must leave, and whenever King Henry needs Worcester, he will just call for him to come. This too demonstrates how King Henry believes he is the center of the world as he can command people to leave, and then when he feels he needs someone to come he will order them to come to his aid. Similarly, King Lear asks Oswald who he is and Oswald replies “my lady’s father” (KL 1.4.81). This infuriates King Lear as he expects everyone to refer to him as King even though he no longer holds power. He curses at Oswald calling him a “whoreson dog”, “slave”, and “cur” (KL 1.4.83) which shows how self-centered he is because he insults someone when they do not respect him as he would like to be …show more content…
Hotspur is furious at King Henry for calling Mortimer a traitor. Hotspur stands up for Mortimer by saying, “nor never could the noble Mortimer receive so many...let him not be slandered with revolt” (KH 1.3. 108-110) showing how Hotspur is being a loyal friend to Mortimer as he calls him noble and believes that he should not be pressed with treason. By King Lear’s knight mentioning to King Lear that he believes “there’s a great abatement of kindness… in the general dependants as in the duke himself also, and [his] daughter” (KL 1.4.60-62) demonstrates how he is looking out for King Lear. The knight is concerned that the servants, Goneril, and the Duke of Albany are treating him with a lack of respect, thus, they are not treating King Lear like a friend which worries the knight. By both Hotspur and King Lear’s knight sticking up for their friends, it shows how they are similar in that they are being loyal