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InKing Lear King Lear In the play King Lear, by William Shakespeare, there are many themes present. The most common and evident theme is that of the loss of personal identity and how it can lead to a better understanding of life. Through the characters of Edgar and Cordelia, who lose all they once had and learn about true love, Gloucester, who is blinded which enables him to see the truth, and King Lear, who loses everything only to come to appreciate the finer things, Shakespeare makes evident the theme of loss of personal identity and the learning experiences it brings along with it. Throughout the course of the play King Lear the characters learn many lessons about life through their loss of personal identity. Gloucester, character in King Lear who has similar happenings to Lear, loses his personal identity and learns a number of important lessons. Gloucester takes in Lear after he has been driven away by both his daughters, and left out in the storm to die.
Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this Unnatural dealing. When I desired Their leave that I might pity him, they Took from me the use of mine own House, charged me on pain and perpetual Displeasure neither to speak of him, Entreat for him, or any way sustain Him. (Act III, Scene 3 lines 1 - 6) It is here that Gloucester is explaining of his loss of power and rights to Regan and Cornwall because he suggested that he might help Lear. Through this loss of personal identity Gloucester learns that the hunger for money and power rules everything. Later on in the play Gloucester has his eyes poked out because he protects Lear and sends him away so his daughters will not torture him. Cornwall says to Gloucester: It was through the loss of his eyes and sight that Gloucester finally had his eyes opened to what was going on around him, and realized the truth about Edgar. O, my follies!
Then Edgar was abused. King gods, forgive me that, and prosper him. (Act III, Scene 7, lines 90 - 91) Gloucester realized that his bastard son Edmund had wronged his son Edgar. Through the loss of his eyes and his sight Gloucester is able to see the truth about what is going on in the kingdom around him. Later on in the play Gloucester tries to kill himself because he feels like he has nothing because he has lost his kingdom and his ability to see. Gloucester's attempt to kill himself is stopped by his son Edgar who puts him in the middle of a field and tells him he is on a cliff. When Gloucester realizes that he is still alive he says: I do remember now.
Henceforth Ill Bear affliction till it do cry Enough, Enough, and die. (Act IV, Scene 6, lines 76 - 79) Gloucester explains that he is wrong for trying to kill himself and he will live until the gods believe it is time for him to die. By attempting to kill himself, Gloucester learns there is more to life than just money and titles. He learns that although rich people have all the money they need they, do not have happiness. He realizes that it is through appreciation for the smaller things that people gain more happiness and live happier lives. Through his lose of identity throughout the play Gloucester learns many different lessons about life and about himself. The most important character to learn from his loss of identity is King Lear himself.
First Lear loses all he has to his daughters because he believes that they will take care of him. After Lear loses all he once possessed to his daughters he is left out in the cold to die. It is outside where Lear realizes that there are more important things than money and power. It was through his loss of money and power that Lear realizes how important the simpler things in life are. Lear becomes aware of little things like straw and says how when you have nothing your necessities change and the simplest of things can be the most important. Lear also loses his mind after being stuck out in the storm and he realizes that when he was king he should have done more to help the poor people in his country.
Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, fire! Spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my Daughters. I tax not you, you elements, Unkindness; I never gave you kingdom, Called you children; you owe me no Subscription. (Act III, Scene 2, lines 14 - 24) Here, Lear loses his mind and through losing his mind Lear realizes that he should have done more to help the poor when he was in power. By the loss of his mind, Lear begins to think more clearly and rationally.
Finally in the end of the play when Lear is reunited with his daughter Cordelia he realizes that she is the only one that truly loves him and she deserves all that he has to offer. Lear also realizes that he had made a mistake when he did not give any of his land to Cordelia and he says to her that she should not be treating him nicely like this, but rather should leave him to die. It was through Lears many losses of personal identity that he grew as a human being and became aware of the simpler things in life and the more important things than money and power. Through the different actions of the characters in King Lear the audience learns many different lessons about life.
It is through their own loss of identity that the characters in King Lear learn about the simpler things in life like love, happiness, and life. It is very ironic that the in order for the different characters to realize what they had they needed to lose something very important to them. Whether it was their eyes, inheritance, or their minds, the characters in King Lear were able to learn some very valuable lessons. This play by William Shakespeare shows his audiences that it takes a man admit he made a mistake, but it takes an even bigger man to be able to learn from these mistakes. 31 a
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Research essay sample on Act Iii Scene Play King Lear
