Srujay rated : ★★★★★
This play is known as one of the four great tragedies of Shakespeare’s works and for a good reason too. I have read the other three, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello, and I honestly think that King Lear sweeps them all, even Hamlet. Hamlet has a high literary quality that I cannot deny, but the thematic issues and the character relationships and the plot of King Lear just warps the reader into a whole other world. King Lear, in short, is a story of a man going through an insane process to humble his arrogant self. A story of hubris, really. In terms of literary technique/device, it is a play, so I would not be too critical in that lens. There are a lot of motifs and symbols. Language is crafted around a lot of elements of human, nature and gods (according to the play). Thematically, I feel that King Lear is …show more content…
There is a constant argument between justice and mercy and how those two are interpreted through conversation and actions of the characters. It is also a story of arrogance and humility, breaking of previous perception to an exposure to a *wider* reality. A story about major family problems (both Lear and Gloucester). Conflicts of man vs. man, society, gods, nature and self with many characters. A huge relationship between man and nature. The relationship of nature and divine. Also themes of authority and chaos. But I think what I love most of the themes in King Lear is the idea of redemption and reconciliation. It is a story about messing up and hopes of rectifying oneself. Obviously, it is not a happy ending. Perhaps the worst ending out of all four tragedies, but it is just so powerful! I do not want to give away the plot, but I can say that although I knew some people were going to die, the way it all
This play is known as one of the four great tragedies of Shakespeare’s works and for a good reason too. I have read the other three, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello, and I honestly think that King Lear sweeps them all, even Hamlet. Hamlet has a high literary quality that I cannot deny, but the thematic issues and the character relationships and the plot of King Lear just warps the reader into a whole other world. King Lear, in short, is a story of a man going through an insane process to humble his arrogant self. A story of hubris, really. In terms of literary technique/device, it is a play, so I would not be too critical in that lens. There are a lot of motifs and symbols. Language is crafted around a lot of elements of human, nature and gods (according to the play). Thematically, I feel that King Lear is …show more content…
There is a constant argument between justice and mercy and how those two are interpreted through conversation and actions of the characters. It is also a story of arrogance and humility, breaking of previous perception to an exposure to a *wider* reality. A story about major family problems (both Lear and Gloucester). Conflicts of man vs. man, society, gods, nature and self with many characters. A huge relationship between man and nature. The relationship of nature and divine. Also themes of authority and chaos. But I think what I love most of the themes in King Lear is the idea of redemption and reconciliation. It is a story about messing up and hopes of rectifying oneself. Obviously, it is not a happy ending. Perhaps the worst ending out of all four tragedies, but it is just so powerful! I do not want to give away the plot, but I can say that although I knew some people were going to die, the way it all