King Lear by William Shakespeare is a classic case of Shakespearian tragedy, dealing with a flawed hero and the themes of fate and catharsis. In the play, Lear is seen to be this flawed hero, with his own naivety leading to his inevitable downfall. He fails as the hero through the breaking of sacred bonds, with the once respected man now seen as a fool. As well the fate in Lear’s downfall, it also plays a role in the side-plot of Gloucester and his illegitimate son Edmund. However, unlike Lear, Edmund is able to see the error of his ways. Finally, catharsis, a purging of emotion, plays a major role in the play with the shifting emotions in relation to Lear’s role as well as that of his daughters, leading to the restoration of natural order.
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Early in the play, Lear is seen almost as an antagonist due to his superficial need for affection and for the banishment of Cordelia. However this emotional response from the audience is short lived as Lear realises that he should not have divided his kingdom as he did, as well as handing over control to Regan and Goneril. The fool imparts this wisdom onto Lear, “If I gave them all my living, I’ld keep my coxcombs / myself. There’s mine; beg another of thy daughters” (I.iv:102-103). Building on the sympathy from the audience, Lear realises that he is no longer as respected as he once was. Lear had lived much of his life with power and the belief that he was wise as “They flattered me / like a dog; and told me I had white hairs in my beard / ere the black ones were there” (IV.vi:96-98), and was now acknowledging how far he had fallen. At the end of the play, upon Cordelia’s death, Lear fully realises how he broke the sacred bond he had with his daughter, “Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, / And thou no breath at all? Thou’lt come no more” (V.iii:307-308). Thus there is a restoration of the natural order, as Lear has admitted that he wronged Cordelia, accepting her again as his daughter, while both Regan and Goneril, who themselves wronged Lear yet were unrepentant, have died. Adding to this, the repentance of Edmund leads to the values of human life being affirmed as the conscience of these characters has allowed them to develop and see their own flaws allowing them to accept
Early in the play, Lear is seen almost as an antagonist due to his superficial need for affection and for the banishment of Cordelia. However this emotional response from the audience is short lived as Lear realises that he should not have divided his kingdom as he did, as well as handing over control to Regan and Goneril. The fool imparts this wisdom onto Lear, “If I gave them all my living, I’ld keep my coxcombs / myself. There’s mine; beg another of thy daughters” (I.iv:102-103). Building on the sympathy from the audience, Lear realises that he is no longer as respected as he once was. Lear had lived much of his life with power and the belief that he was wise as “They flattered me / like a dog; and told me I had white hairs in my beard / ere the black ones were there” (IV.vi:96-98), and was now acknowledging how far he had fallen. At the end of the play, upon Cordelia’s death, Lear fully realises how he broke the sacred bond he had with his daughter, “Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, / And thou no breath at all? Thou’lt come no more” (V.iii:307-308). Thus there is a restoration of the natural order, as Lear has admitted that he wronged Cordelia, accepting her again as his daughter, while both Regan and Goneril, who themselves wronged Lear yet were unrepentant, have died. Adding to this, the repentance of Edmund leads to the values of human life being affirmed as the conscience of these characters has allowed them to develop and see their own flaws allowing them to accept