NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Shakespeare's use of parallels (reprinted in Abrams, et. al. The Norton Anthology of English LIterature, Vol I. Sixth ed. [New York: Norton, 1993 ] 891 - 697) is evident throughout King Lear. Once they are deceived, both King Lear and Gloucester place their evil child into power. After losing everything, Lear goes mad and Gloucester is blinded.
Both children the come to the aid of their father, after being cast away. Shakespeare goes into great detail in describing the specific parallel between the good and evil children, as well as Lear and Gloucester. The first parallel is found when Lear and Gloucester choose their evil child over the good. Goneril and Regan, Lears two evil daughters, fool Lear into believing they have great love for him.
Goneril says, Sir I love you more than words can wield the matter; Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty; Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor; As much as child eer loved, or father found (892). Lear awards Goneril and Regan a fair share of his land. He then turns to Cordelia in hopes of hearing her express her love for him. Cordelia states, Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love your majesty according to my bond; nor more nor less (893). Lear then becomes enraged at her simple love and casts her away.
Lear says, Here I disclaim all my paternal care, propinquity and property of blood, and as a stranger to my heart and me hold thee, from this forever (893). Lear splits up Cordelia's share of the land between Goneril and Regan. Gloucester makes the same mistake as Lear when he is tricked by his evil son Edmund. Edmund writes a letter stating that Edgar plans to murder his father.
Gloucester places the undeserving Edmund into power, and Edgar flees on Edmunds advice. Both Lear and Gloucester believe they have made the right choice in awarding their deceitful children with power. What they do not know, however, is they have been tricked. The second parallel is found when King Lear goes insane and Gloucester is blinded.
Lear is driven to the brink of madness when he finds out that one of his ungrateful children had sought his life. Lear becomes enraged and wants his evil daughters punished. Lear exclaims, Death, traitor! Nothing could have subdued nature to such a lowness but his unkind daughters Should have thus little mercy on their flesh?
Judicious punishment? t was this flesh begot those Pelican daughters (931). Lears madness is shown further when he tears off his clothes in a rage. Lear pronounces, Ha! heres three ons are sophisticated! Thou art the thing itself; un accommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art.
Off, off you lendings! come unbutton here (932). Lear does not know why he should remain sophisticated. He feels he has already lost everything.
Gloucester is then blinded by Cornwall for trying to save Lear from the cruel children. He is denounced as a traitor and is left to find his own way back to Dover. It is ironic when Gloucester's eyes are plucked out. He can no longer see physically, but mentally he sees he was deceived by the evil Edmund. Although Cordelia and Edgar are cast away by their fathers in the beginning, they still help and comfort them in the end.
Although Edgar is forced to flee from his father, he helps lead Gloucester to Dover in disguise as a poor beggar. Gloucester tells Edgar to lead him to a cliff. Gloucester says, There is a cliff, whose high and bending head looks fearfully in the confined deep. Bring me but to the very brim of it, and Ill repair the misery thou dost bear (941). Edgar deceives Gloucester into believing he survives falling off the cliff and gives him new hope.
Meanwhile, Cordelia is trying to save her father form the evil villains. Cordelia's sole concern is for her father. Lear once again finds true happiness once he is reunited it his loving daughter. This reunion is short lived, however, when Cordelia is hanged. Lear struggles frantically to revive his daughter, but is unsuccessful. Lear states, And my poor fool is hanged!
No, no, no life! Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, And thou no breath at all (966). In the end, both Lear and Gloucester die of heartache. Shakespeare's parallels are shown throughout King Lear. The parallels are most evident between Lear and Gloucester, as well as the good and evil children. Both Lear and Gloucester make the mistake of awarding their evil children with undeserving power.
Lear then goes mad after learning of his mistake, and Gloucester is blinded for trying to help Lear. Despite being cast away, the good children come to the aid of their fathers in the end. Although both Lear and Gloucester die in the end, they die knowing which child was honest and true. Sources Cited Shakespeare, William. King Lear, The Northern Anthology of English Literature, Sixth Edition, Vol. 1. W.
W. Norton &# 038; Company, New York, 1993, pp. 891 - 967. 31 a
Free research essays on topics related to: good and evil, lear and gloucester, anthology of english literature, goneril and regan, king lear
Research essay sample on Lear And Gloucester Anthology Of English Literature
