Ian McKellen

Therefore, Shakespeare attempts to intermix archetypes long before Carl Jung discovered and noted these aspects as well as enrich them with more layered struggles, as in the case with Goneril and Regan. The pair not only exhibits the behavior of typical temptresses, but also blends a sibling rivalry as they compete for Edmund’s adoration. Shakespeare also twists the Fool’s original archetype(the comic relief) and turns him into Lear 's loyal friend. Shakespeare turned an old tale with a happy resolution into a solemn tragedy that explores complex human themes that defy perceptions of moral upcomings. Ian McKellen said in an interview on the PBS series Shakespeare Uncovered that “King Lear is neither good nor bad, he is simply a man”(10:24). Shakespeare believed it was time for drama to evolve, it was time for a truly human story to be…

Shakespeare’s Women’s March (The treatment of women according to Shakespeare.) Many writers have different ideas of character treatment. Some people are biased based on physical characteristics, different personal choices, and even gender. Especially back towards the 1400 and 1500’s, women were not treated as equals, they were much considered as lessers. Some men had great thoughts about women and treating them as goddesses, and women were often the focal point of their writing. However,…

Amidst his mad ramblings to Gloucester and Edgar, Lear stumbles upon a fundamental legal problem: law is subjective and only truly favors those in positions of power. In Act IV scene 6, Lear rebukes Gloucester’s hypocrisy, “Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thy own back. / Thou hotly lusts to use her in that kind / For which thou whip’st her. The user hangs the cozener” (161-163). It’s unfair that the woman should suffer alone given that Gloucester also wanted to engage with her. Lear points…

Throughout William Shakespeare’s King Lear, the wizened former King of Britain goes through experiences wrenching enough to make any man lose touch with reality and sanity. Stripped of all power and worldly luxuries, Lear is cast out from both of the daughters who professed eternal love for him. Lear’s apparent progression towards madness is recognized by his family and advisors alike, and Regan even asserts to Lear that he “be rul’d and led / By some discretion that discerns your state / Better…

“Some people will only ‘love you’ as long as they can use you. Their ‘loyalty’ ends where the benefits stop.” Written between the years 1604 and 1606, Shakespeare’s tragedy, King Lear, centers on an aging king who decides to divvy up his kingdom between his three daughters (Gonerill, Regan, and Cordelia) in order to avoid any conflict after his death. This tragedy provides no cushions of happiness for the viewer, and the society is ultimately responsible for the course of this play. King Lear…

In the very first scene of the play the idea of one having control over one's own fate is evident through the contrasting actions of Cordelia's to those of Goneril and Regans. In Act one scene one of the play King Lear decides to give control of his kingdom to his daughters with each daughter receiving a third of the kingdom. The kings’ only catch being that each of his daughters has to profess their love for him in order to receive their share of the kingdom. Lears two eldest daughters Goneril…

Welcome to the beautiful and distinguished Sinclair family; welcome to American perfection. We Were Liars illustrates a perfect family living the Dream life; private island, grand houses, big family, picnics on the beach and boat rides to the vineyard. The novel indicates abstract concepts of love, loss and youth, and demonstrates topics of tragic heroes, sibling rivalry and political power. Harris Sinclair, the patriarch of the family, is the American ideal. He is the Sinclair family, and…

The presence of the supernatural is in The Tragedy of Macbeth, is common like the one to The of Tragedy Hamlet. Hamlet and Macbeth were both pressured into going against the natural social order that they lived in; Hamlet had the heavy task to cast justice with his own young hands, at the request of his deceased father. Macbeth was told his fate by three witches; as well was haunted by the ghost of Banqo. The presence of the supernatural influenced both of the actions of Macbeth and Hamlet. The…

Many people sacrifice the most important things or persons they have in life just to do a right. For example, in King Lear Cordelia sacrifice the love she had for her father, what can happen to her family while sending the army to attack, or even her freedom after her father realized that she was the only daughter that truly loved him. In other words she sacrifice her life without thinking about it, for love. Cordelia was so blind to realize that her father didn't have much love as he had for…

Consequently, Western society’s perception of the aged has not changed much since Shakespeare wrote the play. Moreover, Lear is viewed by his evil daughters as irrelevant, old and foolish. When Lear arrives at Gloucester’s castle hoping that Regan will accept him, she responds, “O, sir, you are old! / Nature in you stands on the very verge / Of her confine” (Shakespeare 2.4 145-147). Regan demonstrates the burden of taking in her father, portraying how individuals in Western society view their…