The characters Gonerill, Regan and Edmund could be categorised as the cruelest in Shakespeare's play, King Lear. Gonerill, Regan and Edmund's deception to their friends and family is ultimately for their own gain and survival. The end of King Lear however, sees Gonerill, Regan and Edmund all dead. Cruelty most certainly aided in their rise to power, Edmund's rising to the Earl of Gloucester and the daughters' acquisition of their Father's land proves this. All the characters that were considered evil did die, however many of those that were kind died as well. Cruelty most definitely played a role in the character's survival, however was not the sole reason for this. It would still be accurate though, to state, that in King Lear it is not survival of the fittest, it is survival of the cruelest.

Gonerill and Regan make the first cruel deception. Both sisters lie to their father, the goal that was to be achieved from this was to acquire his land. After succeeding, the daughters neglect their father and treat him with extreme disrespect. In being cruel towards their father they are protect

Cordelia dies in circumstances different to that of Gloucester and King Lear. Cordelia is a very honest and kind lady. Her honesty is the main reason why her father disowns her. Cordelia could never be cruel. She reconciles with her father despite the grief he had caused her. She also makes no attempt to reveal her sister's true nature and only privately hopes that their plans will be revealed. Cordelia dies because of the theme of 'survival of the cruelest'. Were Cordelia to not forgive her father and remain in France, or to follow the same path that her sisters did she possibly could of survived.

Edmund, Gonerill and Regan's cruelty is horrifically shown in the decision they make for their own survival and uprising. Edmund, in order to be rid of his father Gloucester, lies to Regan and Cornwall and informs them that his father is conspiring with France. The result of this is the torture of Gloucester and the step-up for Edmund, as he is now rid of his kind father. The sending out of their father into the storm was one of Regan and Gonerill's cruelest decisions. The storm could of possibly killed Lear however just aided him in his step towards insanity.

The ending of King Lear sees Albany and Edgar save the day. In order to achieve this outcome both Albany and Edgar had to be cruel towards those who were evil. Edgar's sleighing of Edmund and Albany's arrest of the Gonerill, Regan and Edmund proves this. If Albany and Edgar chose not to be cruel and

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Approximate Word count = 985
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)