King Learby Shakespeare - Free Essay Example

The emotional effect is apparent in King Learby Shakespeare through the use of a subplot that depicts the corruption of political authority, father-child relationships and the death of the protagonist in the narrative. Lears choice to pass on the roles of his kingdom to others lowers his status and leads to the confusion that descends upon his empire. There is the gradual representation of the primary character after he places the kingdom to his children that bring about disastrous impacts for everyone. Based on that, we would analyze the play based on the theme that would be crucial in developing characters and clarifying the argument being put across.King Lea of Britain wanting to withdraw from his responsibilities, decides to leave the empire to his three daughters with the most significant share going to his most beloved. The distribution begins from the eldest, Goneril, then followed by Regan and Cordelia depending on how they express themselves. The Earl of Gloucester and the Earl of Kent notice that Lear awarded his kingdom in equal shares to the peerage that leads to their objection. The state of affair leads to misunderstandings that result in the disinheriting of Cordelia. Lear announces that he would live instead with Goneril and Regan. Edmund feels aggrieved by his illegitimate status and plots to dispose of the legitimate brother, Edgar(Shakespeare). He tricks his father and later on the Fool reproaches Lear with his nave nature into giving everything to Goneril and Regan. Additionally, he predicts that Regan will treat him no better.Edmund realizes that a war is likely to take place between Albany and Cornwall. He takes advantage of the situation to fake an attack that leads to his disinheriting. Kent quarrels with Oswald due to Lears message. When Lear arrives, he is against the mistreatment of his messenger, but Regan is dismissive similar to Goneril. Lear is furious and yields entirely to his range. Edmund betrays Gloucester to Cornwall by revealing evidence of an impending French invasion designed to overthrow Lears throne(Shakespeare). The whole state of confusion leads to events that contribute to the decline of the kingdom due to mistrusts and varied interests. Besides the subplot revolving around the Earl of Gloucester and his sons, the primary concept of the story was the death of Lear and Cordelia. Cordelia brings back Lear to the throne and succeeds him after his death. The tragic ending gets criticized, and alternative versions come up.Numerous editors claim the date of composition of the play was around the early 1600s. Modern texts ofKing Learoriginate from two quotas and a version of the First Folio. There are evident differences in the versions due to the changes effected. The play presents a historical interpretation based on the recurrence of the word nature. The phrases unnatural, nature and natural that occurs more than forty times reflecting a debate that aims at unraveling the relationship in symbolic expression in Lears changing nature. There are two contrasting views and philosophies of human nature in the play exhibited by the Lear and Edmund party. Lear exhibits a sense of reason exemplifying the beliefs of Hooker and Bacon. On the other hand, Edmunds side symbolizes a sense of rationality easily identifiable by a modern audience with beliefs comparable to those of Hobbes.The diverse natures imply two societal segments. Edmund is a modern man in an age of competition, triumph and mistrust. It is in contrast to Lear who depicts an older generation with beliefs on decency, respect and co-operation.Thus, King Lear is symbolic. The older society eventually falls into error and gets trapped by the new era guided by the vision of transformation and a new order exemplified in the kings excluded daughter(Delany). Cordelia is a metaphorical scheme comprising of the community, a person and ethical principle. Shakespeare comprehension of the new person is vast and extensive to the extent of creating sympathetic scenes. Edmund is a representation of the last great expression of Shakespeare that has significantly contributed to the Western heritage. However, there is disapproval of the ideology that man gets made for the society and not the opposite. The play offers a substitute to the feudal-Machiavellian predicted in Frances speech.Given the nonexistence of legitimate mothers inKing Lear, a psychoanalytic interpretation of the maternal subtext results(Goodland). Lears old age forces him to come up with absurd demands that are conventionally fulfilled by a mothering woman. Due to the absence, his daughters occupy the space and who serve as a binding agreement for them to get an inheritance. Cordelias refusal to provide Lear with love more than a father has received numerous interpretations from the unwillingness of motherhood to resistance of incest. The state of affair presents a reversal of child-parent roles. When Lear rejects his daughter, it can get interpreted as dismissing death.Concerning that, it is visible that the play was a significant composition with regards to the duration. The characters symbolize various themes, and their execution is crucial in plot development. One can formulate an argument based on a scene and its comparison to societal happenings. Additionally, the literal devices used can be of importance in the realization of an argument. In conclusion, the play actualized its objective of passing the intended message. Despite its complexity, it is essential in societal enlightenment and education. Works Cited Delany, Paul. King Lear and the Decline of Feudalism.Publications of the Modern Language Association of America(1977): 429-440.Goodland, Katharine.Female Mourning and Tragedy in Medieval and Renaissance English Drama: From the Raising of Lazarus to King Lear. Routledge, 2017.Shakespeare, William, and Horace Howard Furness.King Lear. Courier Corporation, 1908.