Theme Of Deception In King Lear

Throughout the tragedy of King Lear, deception is used to secure various characters’ personal interests. Characters manipulate the truth to achieve their inner desires. Truth is defined as as the intention or purpose behind a decision or action. In addition to manipulating truth, characters also use deception to fulfill their individual endeavors. It is pertinent to establish that there are two types of deception. There is physical deception and deception of the mind. Physical deception can be described as deceiving one’s eyes through a disguise. Whereas, deception of the mind involves manipulation and lying. In the tragedy of King Lear, both types of deception are implemented. It becomes evident in King Lear that deception must be used …show more content…
Edgar is his beloved legitimate son, and Edmund is his illegitimate child: “But I have a son, sir, by order of the law, some year elder than this, who is yet no dearer in my account. Though this knave came saucily to the world, before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged” (I.1.19-24).This predefined outline of the relationship between father and son greatly troubles Edmund. Edmund believes that he should be viewed as an equal, or even superior to Edgar in the eyes of his father. However, due to his status of being born out of wedlock, prevents him from being viewed as an equal. This discrepancy in status inspires Edmund to conspire against his brother: “Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit with all with me’s meet that I can fashion fit” (I.2.191-192). Edmund believes that he can manipulate others into achieving an equal status as his brother in the eyes of his father and …show more content…
This is due to the fact that deception cannot be maintained. The struggle of maintaining deception, whether physical or mental, is explicitly displayed throughout the acts of King Lear. Ultimately, it is the inability to maintain deception that allows for the determination of the true nature of relationships between family members. Therefore, when the ability to continue deceiving ceases, the true nature of the relationship is revealed. The loss of maintaining deception is shown through the relationship of Goneril and Regan and their father, as well as the relationship Gloucester has with his two sons, Edmund and Edgar. Without the use of deception, and the loss of deception, the true nature of these familial relationships would have never come to