hey everyone !
I am finished writing an essay for my ENG4U class on King Lear and was wondering what you thought ! Any feedback would be most welcome !
Here is my thesis: In Shakespeare's King Lear, Lear's naivety and inability to control his emotions leads him on a self-destructive path from denial to rage and, finally, to isolation.
Thanks in advance !!
Not everyone's journey through life can be smooth and carefree. Some paths in life can be treacherous and fraught with peril. In William Shakespeare's King Lear we see the cruel reality of one man's journey through hardships and unexpected hurdles that ultimately lead to his downfall. Lear's life takes an unexpected turn as his world begins to crumble before him. His life begins to twist and transform and Lear becomes so shrouded in denial that he fails to see that his very own daughters plan his demise. However, after Lear realizes his daughters' true intent he becomes consumed with rage which ultimately leads to his self inflicted isolation. In Shakespeare's King Lear, Lear's naivety and inability to control his emotions leads him on a self-destructive path from denial to rage and, finally, to isolation.
Lear's naïve nature makes him blind to his daughters' true intents and feelings towards their father. He is blinded by his love for his daughters and can not speculate why they could act in such a manner as to throw his servant, Kent, into the stocks. Lear's denial becomes evident as he questions Kent:
Lear. No, no, they would not.
Kent. Yes, they have.
Lear. By Jupiter, I swear no!
Kent. By Juno, I swear ay!
Lear. They durst not do't; they could not, would not do't. 'Tis worse than murder. To do upon respect such violent outrage. (II.IV.19-24)
Lear's vehement denial that Regan and Cornwall would ever disrespect his authority demonstrates his inability to see the truth. This failure to determine fact from fiction impairs his mind as Lear begins to formulate his own understanding of Cornwall and Regan's actions: "Infirmity doth still neglect all office whereto our health is bound. We are not ourselves when nature, being oppressed, commands the mind to suffer with the body." (II.IV. 103-107) In his mind, Lear comprehends that the brain cannot possibly function while being ill and therefore the body cannot be held responsible for its actions. This blind attitude and immature thought process is what ultimately carries Lear from denial onto the second stage of his emotional journey.
Lear's path from denial swiftly moves towards rage through lack of ability to control his emotions. Goneril's cruel and unkind attitude towards Lear is his first failure to maintain his composure and his rage begins to take form. Lear ventures to Cornwall and Regan's castle in order to seek refuge. He pleads with Regan and he speaks of Goneril's "sharp-toothed unkindness" (II.IV.134) and his rage increases further as he spouts, "my curses on her!" (II.IV.144) Lear's clear lack of self control award him no more tolerance from his second daughter as Regan rejects his cries for help: "Good sir, no more. These are unsightly tricks, return to my sister." (II.IV.156-157) This is another trigger to unleashing Lear's rage and further failure to control his emotions will spiral him towards a path of deep spiteful anger.
Lear's rage reaches its pinnacle as Regan and Goneril begin to strip their father of his dignity and authority. His lack of self control enables his emotions to take hold of his actions. The sisters offer their father shelter with a simple request; that he give up his retinue:
Goneril. Hear me, my lord. What need you five-and-twenty? Ten? Or five? To follow in a house where twice so many have a command to tend you?
Regan. What need one? (II.IV.259-263)
Goneril and Regan's intentions may come off as cruel, however Lear's emotional reaction only further illustrates his rage, "O reason not the need! Our basest beggars are in the poorest superfluous. Allow not nature more than nature needs, man's life is cheap as beast's." (II.IV.263-266) Lear's comparison to being treated like an animal infuriates him to his breaking point. His rage erupts in a volcanic and explosive outburst, "No, you unnatural hags! I will have such revenges on you both that all the world shall-I will do such things-what they are, yet I know not; but they shall be the terrors of the earth. You think I'll weep. No, I'll not weep." (II.IV.277-282) Lear has become so enraged with his daughters that he curses them and vows vengeance. His path from denial to rage has now come full circle due to his inability to maintain his thoughts and actions. This king's lack of self control and ineptitude at controlling a situation, ultimately lead him toward the path of self destruction. Lear's journey from denial to rage and finally isolation is almost at an end as rage gives way to isolation.
This heart wrenching emotional journey has finally led Lear to isolation. His rage towards Gonerial and Regan has led him to feel isolated and abandoned by his family. Lear's lack of ability to suppress his rage towards his daughters has forced his path into that of loneliness and self desertion, clearly illustrated when he cries out to the surrounding storm;
Lear. Rumble they bellyful. Spit, fire. Spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters. I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness. I never gave you kingdom, called you children, you owe me no subscription. Then let fall your horrible pleasure. Here I stand your slave, a poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man. (III.II.14-22)
Lear cannot begin to comprehend why he should suffer at the hands of his daughters when he has given them so much. This man's journey to isolation is now at hand. Forlorn and bellowing into a dark ominous storm clearly illustrates how alone Lear truly is. His feelings of abandonment oblige him to once again call out into the night in a last attempt for someone to hear his pleas. He roars to the storm wanting to be judged and purged from the gods since he describes himself as a "man more sinned against then sinning." (III.II.57-59) Shakespeare clearly illustrates the epitome of isolation and loneliness by depicting a frail old man howling into the open night sky during a raging storm. Lear's path to isolation is now absolute and is the final step before his ultimate self destruction.
The emotional voyage of Shakespeare's King Lear, was a long and arduous journey. Lear's self destructive path from denial to rage and, finally, to isolation was ultimately his own doing. The inability to think for himself and determine the false nature of his eldest daughters is where Lear began his journey in denial. Such blindness, in conjunction with Lear's inability to maintain control over his emotions, led this king to a path of thunderous rage. The lack of ability to have power over his actions led Lear to a self inflicted isolation. Only Lear can be held responsible for his own demise as he lacked the capability to control the situations around him. Fate may lay out the course for us to follow however; we govern our own actions and must accept responsibility for the choices we make.
I am finished writing an essay for my ENG4U class on King Lear and was wondering what you thought ! Any feedback would be most welcome !
Here is my thesis: In Shakespeare's King Lear, Lear's naivety and inability to control his emotions leads him on a self-destructive path from denial to rage and, finally, to isolation.
Thanks in advance !!
Not everyone's journey through life can be smooth and carefree. Some paths in life can be treacherous and fraught with peril. In William Shakespeare's King Lear we see the cruel reality of one man's journey through hardships and unexpected hurdles that ultimately lead to his downfall. Lear's life takes an unexpected turn as his world begins to crumble before him. His life begins to twist and transform and Lear becomes so shrouded in denial that he fails to see that his very own daughters plan his demise. However, after Lear realizes his daughters' true intent he becomes consumed with rage which ultimately leads to his self inflicted isolation. In Shakespeare's King Lear, Lear's naivety and inability to control his emotions leads him on a self-destructive path from denial to rage and, finally, to isolation.
Lear's naïve nature makes him blind to his daughters' true intents and feelings towards their father. He is blinded by his love for his daughters and can not speculate why they could act in such a manner as to throw his servant, Kent, into the stocks. Lear's denial becomes evident as he questions Kent:
Lear. No, no, they would not.
Kent. Yes, they have.
Lear. By Jupiter, I swear no!
Kent. By Juno, I swear ay!
Lear. They durst not do't; they could not, would not do't. 'Tis worse than murder. To do upon respect such violent outrage. (II.IV.19-24)
Lear's vehement denial that Regan and Cornwall would ever disrespect his authority demonstrates his inability to see the truth. This failure to determine fact from fiction impairs his mind as Lear begins to formulate his own understanding of Cornwall and Regan's actions: "Infirmity doth still neglect all office whereto our health is bound. We are not ourselves when nature, being oppressed, commands the mind to suffer with the body." (II.IV. 103-107) In his mind, Lear comprehends that the brain cannot possibly function while being ill and therefore the body cannot be held responsible for its actions. This blind attitude and immature thought process is what ultimately carries Lear from denial onto the second stage of his emotional journey.
Lear's path from denial swiftly moves towards rage through lack of ability to control his emotions. Goneril's cruel and unkind attitude towards Lear is his first failure to maintain his composure and his rage begins to take form. Lear ventures to Cornwall and Regan's castle in order to seek refuge. He pleads with Regan and he speaks of Goneril's "sharp-toothed unkindness" (II.IV.134) and his rage increases further as he spouts, "my curses on her!" (II.IV.144) Lear's clear lack of self control award him no more tolerance from his second daughter as Regan rejects his cries for help: "Good sir, no more. These are unsightly tricks, return to my sister." (II.IV.156-157) This is another trigger to unleashing Lear's rage and further failure to control his emotions will spiral him towards a path of deep spiteful anger.
Lear's rage reaches its pinnacle as Regan and Goneril begin to strip their father of his dignity and authority. His lack of self control enables his emotions to take hold of his actions. The sisters offer their father shelter with a simple request; that he give up his retinue:
Goneril. Hear me, my lord. What need you five-and-twenty? Ten? Or five? To follow in a house where twice so many have a command to tend you?
Regan. What need one? (II.IV.259-263)
Goneril and Regan's intentions may come off as cruel, however Lear's emotional reaction only further illustrates his rage, "O reason not the need! Our basest beggars are in the poorest superfluous. Allow not nature more than nature needs, man's life is cheap as beast's." (II.IV.263-266) Lear's comparison to being treated like an animal infuriates him to his breaking point. His rage erupts in a volcanic and explosive outburst, "No, you unnatural hags! I will have such revenges on you both that all the world shall-I will do such things-what they are, yet I know not; but they shall be the terrors of the earth. You think I'll weep. No, I'll not weep." (II.IV.277-282) Lear has become so enraged with his daughters that he curses them and vows vengeance. His path from denial to rage has now come full circle due to his inability to maintain his thoughts and actions. This king's lack of self control and ineptitude at controlling a situation, ultimately lead him toward the path of self destruction. Lear's journey from denial to rage and finally isolation is almost at an end as rage gives way to isolation.
This heart wrenching emotional journey has finally led Lear to isolation. His rage towards Gonerial and Regan has led him to feel isolated and abandoned by his family. Lear's lack of ability to suppress his rage towards his daughters has forced his path into that of loneliness and self desertion, clearly illustrated when he cries out to the surrounding storm;
Lear. Rumble they bellyful. Spit, fire. Spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters. I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness. I never gave you kingdom, called you children, you owe me no subscription. Then let fall your horrible pleasure. Here I stand your slave, a poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man. (III.II.14-22)
Lear cannot begin to comprehend why he should suffer at the hands of his daughters when he has given them so much. This man's journey to isolation is now at hand. Forlorn and bellowing into a dark ominous storm clearly illustrates how alone Lear truly is. His feelings of abandonment oblige him to once again call out into the night in a last attempt for someone to hear his pleas. He roars to the storm wanting to be judged and purged from the gods since he describes himself as a "man more sinned against then sinning." (III.II.57-59) Shakespeare clearly illustrates the epitome of isolation and loneliness by depicting a frail old man howling into the open night sky during a raging storm. Lear's path to isolation is now absolute and is the final step before his ultimate self destruction.
The emotional voyage of Shakespeare's King Lear, was a long and arduous journey. Lear's self destructive path from denial to rage and, finally, to isolation was ultimately his own doing. The inability to think for himself and determine the false nature of his eldest daughters is where Lear began his journey in denial. Such blindness, in conjunction with Lear's inability to maintain control over his emotions, led this king to a path of thunderous rage. The lack of ability to have power over his actions led Lear to a self inflicted isolation. Only Lear can be held responsible for his own demise as he lacked the capability to control the situations around him. Fate may lay out the course for us to follow however; we govern our own actions and must accept responsibility for the choices we make.
