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Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This common advice directed to the characters of Shakespeare s King Lear could completely reverse the outcome of this famous tragedy. King Lear s own vanity results in his ultimate demise. Goneril and Regan bring about their own downfall through their unkindness to almost all others. The very brother whom Edmund betrays returns in the end to destroy his character. It is because each of these characters is too driven by self-interest that they ultimately diminish themselves.
To achieve and maintain a harmonious and peaceful kingdom, characters must first concern themselves with others. King Lear begins the play by allowing his ego to come between him and those who truly love him most, which in the end costs him dearly. Lear has his daughters compete for their inheritance by judging who can proclaim their love for him in the grandest possible fashion. Cordelia finds that she is unable to show her love with mere words: [Aside] What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent. (Shakespeare, I. i. 63 - 64) Cordelia clearly loves her father, and yet realizes that her honesty will not please him.
Lear instantly cast his youngest daughter away, referring to her as: Unfriended, new adopted to our hate, dow red with our curse, and stranger with out oath. (I. i. 205 - 206) Lear was too quick to judge Cordelia, and as a result his previously most enjoyed daughter was instantly his enemy. The only other character who truly follows Lear is the Earl of Kent. Lear also allows his ego to come between his previously trusted advisor, ironically concerning the same incident.
Kent, realizing Lear s fatal mistake protests the foolish decision: When majesty falls to folly whose low sounds Reverb no hollowness. (I. i. 151 - 156) Lear s ego takes over, answering Kent s advice with banishment. It is King Lear s ego, narrow-mindedness and blindness to the truth, which ultimately leads to his defeat. Lear s ego also clouds his vision while conversing with his other two daughters.
Lear intends To shake all cares and business from our age, Conferring them on younger strengths, (I. i. 41 - 42) Goneril and Regan are successful in the theft of their father s power through the use of their lies and deceit. Goneril and Regan comply falsely with the utmost respect and love to their father s request for professions of love. Lear, believing that he will somehow maintain kingship, while disowning all other responsibilities hands over his kingdom to his daughters. After attaining power of the kingdom, Goneril and Regan deny requests made by Lear: I dare avouch it, sir Tis hard, almost impossible. (II. iv. 236 - 241) Lear finds himself unwelcome with Goneril and Regan, ending up in a terrible storm outside of shelter; the storm s intensity symbolizes Lear s inner struggles and revelation into insanity.
Lear s madness and eventual death is the direct result of his selfishness. He dies of a broken heart over the lifeless cold body of his prized possession Cordelia: Do you see this? Look on her. Look, her lips, look there, look there.
He dies. (V. iii. 312 - 313) It is when Lear is going mad that he fully realizes how crucial his mistake in giving up the kingdom to his two savage daughters and disowning the one daughter who loves him most may be. Goneril and Regan construct their follies through insidious attempts. Lear s two evil daughters may be considered a single entity with a common purpose. As they plot to usurp Lear s power, their foolishness is illustrated in their single-minded decisions. Goneril proposes to Lear Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter (I.
i. 57) in her selfish attempts to gain her father s land. Not to be outdone, however, Regan attempts to use the same method in the theft of power from her father s hands. She attests that Goneril has named her very deed of love; only she comes too short. (I. i. 73 - 74) Goneril and Regan let jealousy be the driving force behind their existence. Now holding rule of the kingdom, Goneril and Regan show true resentment of their father.
The resentful treatment drives their father out into the cold: O reason not the need O Fool, I shall go mad! (II. iv. 263 - 285) Turned away by both Regan and Goneril, Lear rails against the storm and screams I am a man more sinned against than sinning. (III. ii. 58 - 59) After attaining power of the kingdom, Goneril and Regan choose to overlook their responsibilities as rulers becoming preoccupied with their own interests. Goneril and Regan are brought to death when their selfishness extends to each other. The two sisters are in love with Edmund. After Cornwall s death, Goneril fears that Regan may marry Edmund; Goneril s partner in adultery.
Goneril, obviously the more evil of the two poisons Regan: I had rather lose the battle than that sister should loosen him and me. (V. i. 18 - 19) It is at this point that Goneril and Regan split. Regan dies of poison. Goneril, ashamed of her actions takes her own life.
We see how it is evident that these two evil characters drive themselves to death through selfishness. Edmund, driven by selfishness and jealousy makes two ultimately evil decisions, which eventually lead to his folly. For all of his life, Gloucester has kept his bastard son Edmund in the dark. Edgar on the other hand, was proudly Gloucester s legitimate son who all his life has received such benefits, and is due to inherit everything. All the while, Edmund has been keeping score.
O villain, villain! His very opinion in the letter. Abhorred villain, unnatural, detested, brutish villain; worse than brutish! Go, sirrah, seek him. I ll apprehend him. Abominable villain!
Where is he? (I. ii. 80 - 84) Ruled by jealousy and self-interest, Edmund plots to eliminate his legitimate rival by manipulating his father to believe a forged letter. Edmund is successful in exiling Edgar; forcing Edgar to disguise himself. Edmund s selfishness is unmatched in the play.
To simply inform the audience of his evilness he states: This is the excellent foppery of the world Fa, sol, la, mi. (I. ii. 128 - 148) Edmund further extends his evilness into his own family, next betraying his father. Edmund s second decision, which proves useless, involves his father. Gloucester tells his son that he intends to side with Lear and France in the upcoming war. Edmund jumps at the opportunity to betray his father, immediately reporting to Goneril and Regan his father s intentions: This courtesy forbid thee shall the Duke instantly know (III. iii. 22 - 23) Edmund s further act of deceit results in his fathers blindness.
Goneril, Regan, and Cornwall retaliate to Gloucester by removing his eyes; the direct result of Edmund s deceit. It is Edmund s selfish choices that ultimately finish him off. Edgar returns in the end for revenge: Draw thy sword To prove upon they heart, whereto I speak, thou list. (V. iii. 127 - 142) Edgar finishes off Edmund with his sword, bringing to justice all the evil he has caused. It is selfishness that ultimately leads to the downfall of these characters. Lear s determination to rid himself of all responsibilities, while maintaining King status results in his death.
The two evil daughter s diminish themselves after countless acts of insidious deceit. Edmund weaves his way through life wholly evil and self-centered, leading to his death. After analyzing King Lear we find that selfishness will only bring about our death, only by acts of kindness and concern for other will we survive in a harmonious society. 386
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Research essay sample on Goneril And Regan King Lear
