King Lear Research Paper

William Shakespeare’s tragedy King Lear is so appallingly devastating that the readers’ questions about justice are unanswered at the end of the play. Shakespeare’s characters in King Lear assert that villainy will eventually undo itself. This proves to be true at the end of King Lear when the Duke of Cornwall, Edmund, Goneril, and Regan have all died as a result of their own immoral acts. The audience can perceive the deaths of these characters as just punishments for their immoral acts. However, King Lear is a tragedy and as a tragedy most of the characters suffer and die, including the most moral and heroic characters. The death and suffering of these characters could be interpreted by the reader as unjust, lamentable, and tragic. In King …show more content…
Edgar is the devoted son who is framed by his illegitimate younger half-brother, Edmund, for treason. As a character Edgar gives the audience hope that he will be able to put a stop to Edmund’s villainy. Although Edmund is a moral character he has to endure a lot of suffering. He is wrongfully disowned by his father and betrayed by his brother. Edgar has to survive on his own in poverty after being wrongfully disowned by his father, the Earl of Gloucester. Edgar is tormented when he sees that the Duke of Cornwall has stomped out the Earl of Gloucester’s eyes. Edmunds betrayal of his father, the Earl of Gloucester, may seem just to the audience given the Earl of Gloucester repeated calls Edmund a bastard. However, The Earl of Gloucester and Edgar both openly love Edmund and treat him …show more content…
Edgar thinks it is better now that he knows the truth about his brother. Edgar thinks that now he has hit rock bottom his fortune can only change for the better, and that he has nothing left to fear. Although Edgar’s hopeful speech is negated to some degree by the sight of his abused and blinded father, Edgar continues to be a force for hope throughout the play. After Edgar defeats his brother, Edgar asks Edmund if they can forgive each other, causing Edmund in the moments before his death to try to save Cordelia and Lear when Edmund has ordered have to have Cordelia and Lear