William Shakespeare's play King Lear comprises of two complex yet thematically similar plots. He has used the characters and themes of the subplot to amplify the drama and calamity of the main plot. Through the tribulations of Edgar, the cruelty of Edmund and the suffering of Gloucester we will see a connection between their plot, and the main plot and its characters.

The characterization of the sub-plot is incredibly similar to those in the main plot. We are introduced to the characters of the subplot in Act 1 when we hear Gloucester's illegitimate son, Edmund plotting to overthrow the boundaries of nature against his father and his older legitimate brother, Edgar. This sets the snowball effect for the sub-plot's inevitable tragedy. Like the sub-plot, the characters of the main plot are introduced in the beginning act and their own snowball has star

Edmund manipulated Gloucester's old, trusting mind and made him believe he was faithful to him and trustworthy so that he could rise into the realms of complete power and authority over all of Gloucester. Goneril and Regan also manipulated their father into believing that they love him, in the first scene of the play, all for complete supremacy over England. There are many themes that relate to both the sub-plot and the main-plot. One of the most inspiring themes that overlap both plots is compassion vs cruelty.

The reality of his daughter's true love for Lear is exposed to him in Act 2 as Goneril and Regan start to challenge his lack of authority. Lear was fooled by his daughters' appearance of love and kindness and it was only until they revealed their true lack of respect for him does Lear begin to see the reality. Gloucester also experiences this where his apparent loving son Edmund betrays him and he sees th

Some common words found in the essay are:
Goneril Regan, King Lear, Gloucester Lear, Lear Gloucester, main plot, William Shakespeare's, main plot introduced, king lear, plot introduced, son edmund, true lack, goneril regan, sub-plot main-plot,
Approximate Word count = 620
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)