Jona MamuriJanuary 23, 2018King Lear Essay In King Lear, ‘I am a man more sinned against than sinning'( III:II:60), Lear bring everything on himself because of the decisions he made at the beginning of the play. Firstly, due to anger and pride, Lea banishes Cordelia and Kent. Secondly, Lear is blaming his daughters, and later realizes his foolish and poor judgments.
Lastly, Lear is responsible for Cordelia’s death. Due to king Lear’s blindness of seeing the truth, it was the reason behind his downfall and tragic death. Firstly, due to anger and pride, Lear banished both Cordelia and Kent. At the beginning of the play, Lear ask his three daughters to give him compliments, and in return, he shall give parts of his land to them. Both Regan and Goneril both said they love only their father. But for Cordelia, her response was ” Nothing my Lord” “Nothing will come of nothing speak again” ” Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart into my mouth I love your majesty according to my bond, no more nor less”(I:I:96-98). Lear took away all of Cordelia’s inheritance and banished Cordelia.
“Kent, on thy life, no more!” ” My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thine enemies, nor fear to lose it, thy safety being motive” ” Out of my sight!” ” See better, Lear, and let me still remain the true blank of thine eye”(I:I:164-170). Due to Lear’s anger, he took it upon Kent and banished him. Secondly, Lear blames his daughters. Lear ” Now, all the plagues that in the pendulous air Hang fainted o’er men’s faults light on thy daughters! ” Kent ” He hath no daughters, sir” Lear ” Death, Traitor! Nothing could have subdued nature To such a lowest but his unkind daughters Is it the fashion that discarded fathers Should have thus little mercy on their flesh? Judicious punishment! ‘Twas this flesh begot Those pelican daughters( (III:IV:73-81).
After Lear’s daughters Goneril and Regan betray him, he blames all women and blames the troubles on his unkind daughters. Lear ” Poor naked wrenches, wherso’er you are, that bides the pelting on this pitiless storm, now shall your houseless heads and undies sides Your looped and windowed ruggedness, defend you from season such as these? O,I have ta’en Too little care of this. Take physic, pomp, Expose thy self to feel what wretches feel the heavens more just” ( III:IV:32-41). Lear has done nothing to solve the problems. He had power and authority to do something great, ‘ the heavens more just’ means that their can only be justice in the way the world when we behave justly toward each other. Lastly, Lear is responsible for Cordelia’s death.
” No, no, no, no! Come, let’s away to prison We two alone will sing like birds i’ the cage. When thou dost ask me blessing, I’ll kneel down And ask of thee forgiveness. So we’ll live, And pray, and sing , and to old tales, and laugh at gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues talk of court news; and we’ll talk with them too, Who loses and who wins; who’s in, who’s out; And take upon’s the mystery of things, As if we were God’s spies; and we’ll wear our, in a walled prison, packs and sects of great ones That ebb and flow by the moon”(V:III:9-20). Lear asks Cordelia to go to prison with him. He thinks that, as long as the two of them are together, them can be happy.
Since Cordelia’s back, Lear wants to stay beside Cordelia and lead a happy and true life with Cordelia. ‘ Howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones. That heaven’s vault should crack.
She’d gone for ever! I know one is dead, and when one lives. She’s dead as earth “.( V:III:307-311). Lear carries Cordelia’s dead body Knows that she’s gone, he keeps insisting someone to check on her pulse. In the end, Lear still thinks that Cordelia is still alive and he died.
I’m conclusion, it was based on Lear’s decision that he brought against himself. Firstly, Lear judges his daughters based on their compliment and how ever big they complimented him, the bigger their land will be. Secondly, Lear blames his unkind daughters. Lastly, due to his bad decisions, he was responsible for Cordelia’s death.
