“I used to think 'King Lear' was an analysis of insanity, but I don't really think it is. When Lear is supposed to be at his most insane, he is actually understanding the world for the first time” (Ian Mckellen). In William Shakespeare's King Lear King Lear is a king with no power who is suffering from insanity but from his insanity comes great revelations although they come too late.King Lear is a tragic hero due to his grueling downfall, immense recovery and enduring a final tragic ending. King Lear’s struggles makes him the true embodiment of a tragic hero.
The beginning of King Lear’s tragic downfall is when he divides his kingdom amongst his Daughters Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. Lear gives away his power to his daughters because he …show more content…
The most important point is that Lear understands the true nature of his daughters. Lear is in an abandoned building with Kent, the Fool and Edgar when he decides to put Regan and Goneril on trial for treason only they are not really there “It shall be done; I will arraign them straight” (6. 3. 20) From this quote the audience can clearly see that Lear understands the traitorous intentions of his daughters. Having such a scene with the combination of madness and clarity turns the feeling that Lear is foolish into pity of his madness. In the second half of the play Lear is changed from a immoral character who is despised to a pitied character who can be seen as a tragic hero. Lear now sees the wrong that he has done to his daughter Cordelia and means to make amends. When Lear realizes that Cordelia and her troops saved him he pleas for forgiveness “If you have poison for me, I will drink it./ I know you do not love me; for your sisters/Have, as I do remember, done me wrong/You have some cause, they have not”(4, 7, 72-74). This quotes cements that Lear has rid himself of his arrogance in exchange for being humble. Lear is in very bad condition yet he only worries of his relationship with his daughter and how to repair it as a good Father should do. Lear’s efforts to patch things up with his daughter help to make the audience relate with him therefore making him easier to see as a tragic hero. This touching …show more content…
When Lear is told he is being taken to prison it creates a form of dramatic irony to great effect by having Lear believe that he can spend the rest of his days in prison apologizing to his daughter “No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison/We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage/ When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down,/And ask of thee forgiveness: so we'll live,/ And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh” (5, 3, 8-12). Lears innocence in this scene causes pity in the audience. Lear no longer cares for freedom, power nor revenge but only the forgiveness of his daughter. This is meant to stir feelings of pity towards Lear as the play comes to a close thus further improving Lear’s image as a tragic
The beginning of King Lear’s tragic downfall is when he divides his kingdom amongst his Daughters Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. Lear gives away his power to his daughters because he …show more content…
The most important point is that Lear understands the true nature of his daughters. Lear is in an abandoned building with Kent, the Fool and Edgar when he decides to put Regan and Goneril on trial for treason only they are not really there “It shall be done; I will arraign them straight” (6. 3. 20) From this quote the audience can clearly see that Lear understands the traitorous intentions of his daughters. Having such a scene with the combination of madness and clarity turns the feeling that Lear is foolish into pity of his madness. In the second half of the play Lear is changed from a immoral character who is despised to a pitied character who can be seen as a tragic hero. Lear now sees the wrong that he has done to his daughter Cordelia and means to make amends. When Lear realizes that Cordelia and her troops saved him he pleas for forgiveness “If you have poison for me, I will drink it./ I know you do not love me; for your sisters/Have, as I do remember, done me wrong/You have some cause, they have not”(4, 7, 72-74). This quotes cements that Lear has rid himself of his arrogance in exchange for being humble. Lear is in very bad condition yet he only worries of his relationship with his daughter and how to repair it as a good Father should do. Lear’s efforts to patch things up with his daughter help to make the audience relate with him therefore making him easier to see as a tragic hero. This touching …show more content…
When Lear is told he is being taken to prison it creates a form of dramatic irony to great effect by having Lear believe that he can spend the rest of his days in prison apologizing to his daughter “No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison/We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage/ When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down,/And ask of thee forgiveness: so we'll live,/ And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh” (5, 3, 8-12). Lears innocence in this scene causes pity in the audience. Lear no longer cares for freedom, power nor revenge but only the forgiveness of his daughter. This is meant to stir feelings of pity towards Lear as the play comes to a close thus further improving Lear’s image as a tragic