KING LEAR

A detailed Summary of KING LEAR

It is said by Lear that it would have been better if Cordelia "hadst not been born than not t'have pleased me better", but France supports her by referring to her as "Fairest Cordelia" to put her into a better light. As France is portrayed as a "true gentleman" his views and opinions are respected more by the audience than Lear's, because Lear appears to the viewers as an egotistical and cruel man. Therefore, when France describes Cordelia as being "rich" but "poor", "Most choice" yet "forsaken" and "most loved" though "despised!" the audience sees a major contrast through these paradoxes and agrees with France. This makes Lear look as if he is doing something "monstrous" as his opinion differs so much from France's. The fact that Lear is saying such shocking things about his daughter who he earlier called "our joy" shows that his words are not to be trusted.

Lear's 'monstrous" behaviour is greatly emphasised by the different language techniques that France uses, such as the use of the paradoxes and the rhyming couplets like "my chance" with "fair France" and "cold'st neglect" to "inflamed respect". By using these methods, stress is put onto the point that is being made by F

"'Tis the infirmity of his age; yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself...We must do something, and i'th'heat.".

From this it can be seen that the sisters have a good understanding of Lear's nature, especially when it is said that Lear has never "slenderly known himself" as they know his flaws.

They seem to be very knowledgeable about Lear's nature and which is evident from the following points they make:

King Lear expresses his disgust of Cordelia by announcing to everyone that he has "no such daughter" and that he never wants to see "That face of hers again". His tone is spiteful and dismissive towards his once favourite daughter and shows the audience how callous and cold-hearted he is. From this remark we can see that he is egotistical, superficial and materialistic. Lear has let the power of being King and his position next to God go to his head and has evidently become oblivious to everyone around him, even his own family. He only sees people for their materialistic value, which is evident from the contrast in the way he dismisses France and Cordelia for being worthless and says "Come, noble Burgundy", with the emphasis being on "noble".

Some common words found in the essay are:
Edgar Gloucester, France's Lear, King Lear, France Cordelia, Goneril Regan, Lear's Lear, God Lear, Regan Goneril, Lear Lines, Elizabethan World, king lear, goneril regan, own family people, hath slenderly, family people, materialistic value, kent's banishment, own family, lear lines, france cordelia, lear's nature, king lear lines,

Approximate Word count = 1268
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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KING LEAR

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