Why do bad things happen to good people? The majority of society believes that there are no logical answers to this question. The worst can happen to the best of us, for no particular reasons. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In William Shakespeare's "King Lear", the main character, King Lear, who claims to be "a man more sinned against than sinning", is responsible for his own downfall (3.2.60-61). Though a good king, Lear's actions cause his family and kingdom to fall apart. The sins committed against King Lear are a result of his personal faults of rashness, blindness, and foolishness.
King Lear's hot temper and hasty decisions play a significant role in his fall from grace. His old age has caused him to behave impulsively, without any consideration for the consequences of his actions. When Lear asks his devoted daughter Cordelia to express her love for him, he becomes upset with he
King Lear's rashness, blindness, and foolishness provoke others to commit sins against him. Were it not for these faults, his family and kingdom would have continued to thrive.
Above all, Lear's foolishness is the cause of his downfall. His illogical decisions cause chaos in the kingdom. Though he means well, Lear does not think rationally when he decides to hand over his power to his daughters before he dies. Lear was too quick to step down from the throne and did not realize that a bloody power struggle would ensue. In addition to losing his title, Lear is also left without a home when he divides his kingdom. Lear greatly regrets his decision when both Goneril and Regan refuse to keep him in their homes and force him to face a terrible storm without shelter. Lear is also quite foolish when he banishes Kent for supporting Cordelia and suggesting that the king reconsider his decision to disown her
All papers and essays are for research and reference purposes only!
Copyright 2002-2009
Direct Essays , LLC. All Rights Reserved. DMCA Webmasters make $$$$