Question:
King Lear by Shakespeare?
i have to do an essay evaluating the universal themes of king lear by william shakespeare. If anyone could help me out it would be highly appreciated
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Just some points ...
1) Nothing: "nothing" and "nothingness" are very important concepts in king lear.
2) Clothing: reference to clothing are closely linked to ideas about the appearance and reality. Outward appearance are often deceptive in king lear.
3) Animal: There is a wealth of animal imagery in king lear, mostly referred ot gonerill and regan.
4) Sight & Blindness: This theme is closely linked with gloucester and Lear ( The Main plot reflects the sub plot) these fathers failed to see the true nature of there daughters and as Glouceseter said, "I stumbled when I saw", even with his eyes plucked out he could see how the world goes, you could elaborate a lot on this.
5) Madness: There are different types of madness in king lear... Lear's rash actions... The bloodlust exhibited by gonerill and regan... the fool's professional madness.
6) Suffering: Many of the characters are driven almost beyond the limits of endurance. Gloucester dies of broken heart, and lear dies a man half mad, following cordelia's death. In king lear the good endure and help each other. In king lear shakespeare seems to suggest that it is the man's fate to suffer. Lear says this very plainly in Act IV, " when we are born we cry that we are come / To this great stage of fools"
7) Nature: We are presented with conlflicting views of nature and what is natural. The dominance of the evil characters in king lear might lead us to feel that nature is a cruel force in king lear, one can also conclude that nature just reflects the mistakes of men.
8) Justice: This theme can be linked also to the gods, divine justice and social justice.
9) The gods: here we are also presented with conflicting opinions about the gods, some argue that the are just, "The gods are just and of our pleasant vices make instruments to plague us" and some think that these are sadist.
I hope it helps good luck with your essays, just one last thing, I find best the oxford notes ... Cyaa Take care ;)