Thought

The ‘thought’ of a tragedy refers to the key ideas that the play presents. You may have called them “themes” or “ideas” previously. They are, in essence, the same thing and the important thing to remember with the key ideas in the text is that they should be universal. If you need a refresher on just how important the ‘thoughts’ in any text are, have a read of this blog post here.

Reflect on the importance of a strong idea in a text. Comment on what impact an idea could have on a reader if it is presented in an effective manner. Brainstorm reasons why a writer may feel the need to present an idea to their audience.

King Lear presents the audience with a multitude of ideas. Possibly the most prevalent is the commentary it provides on ‘human nature’, particularly in relation to justice and power. It also raises the notion of “nothing will come of nothing”. As we come to understand over the course of the play, doing nothing often has more disastrous consequences than doing something. The tidy thing about King Lear is that all of these ideas are interconnected and it is almost impossible to talk of one without the others.

Summarise what “thoughts” Shakespeare presents about the following ideas in King Lear:

• Human Nature
• Justice
• Nothing

Explore how Shakespeare develops his ‘thoughts’ about the ideas above. Analyse what devices he uses to engage the audience with his ideas. Note: devices could refer to characters, language techniques, symbolism, plot events. You should also look to connect your exploration to some of the historical contexts of the play- think like an Elizabethan!

Shakespeare frequently writes about human nature and how people behave through his faulty characters and their mistakes and strengths. Since human tendencies haven’t changed, his ideas are just as relevant now as they were four centuries ago. Many of the characters, mainly Edmund, Goneril, Regan and Lear have a lust for power and authority and have greediness for being able to control others. It is in human nature to wish to feel superior over others and feel important in the world, however this desperate urge to maintain power is the fault of many of the characters in King Lear. Paranoia, ignorance and egotistical beliefs can cause those in authority to overlook what is in plain sight since they only want to see want is desired even if what they see is false. Lear’s blindness towards Goneril and Regan’s over the top declarations of love (“I love you more than word can wield the matter; dearer than eyesight”) is a clear example of Lear’s arrogance coming between his ability to realise the reality of the situation, that his two daughters only have eyes for his power. Cordelia feels that she shouldn’t need to utter such nonsense if Lear truly believes that her love is true, Cordelia’s love being proven by his loyalty to him despite Lear’s banishing of her. Our desire to only listen to what we want to hear as opposed to the harsh truth is a fault of the human race. Despite the severity of Lear’s mistakes it is also in human nature to make bad or irrational decisions which have great consequences, humans are imperfect beings and our faults can create valuable lessons, Lear learning of his wrongings from his immense suffering. Lear’s ignorance decreases as he further and further transforms into a poor and powerless man because he is in their shoes and understands the truth of the cruel reality of their world. Lear sympathises with Edgar, stating “nothing could have subdued nature to such a lowness but his unkind daughters.”, meaning that only the wicked acts of his own daughter could have brought him to such a low position, Lear only knowing or experiencing injustice at the hands of his own daughter. This indicates that only through becoming poor yourself, will you truly become sympathetic and understand the injustice of the world, nobles and rich men will be blind.

Lear believes that he will always have power, even if he gives it away because he is so used to being respected and obeyed by everyone in his presence. Human’s have a tendency to believe that their quality of life and how others treat them will not change, characters like Gloucester and Lear indicating that a sudden change in one’s social status and power can drive someone into a dark place where they must survive in unfavourable conditions. It is in human nature to want to maintain their adopted lifestyle and this shown in Lear’s demanding of services which he has no authority over, Lear commanding “The King would speak with Cornwall; the dear father would with his daughter speak, commands, tends service… no but not yet! Maybe he is not well. Infirmity doth still neglect all office.” Lear believes that there is something wrong with them for overlooking their duties to come and speak to the King when ordered to because he is in such disbelief of him losing authority so suddenly. Gloucester, whilst imprisoned and interrogated by Cornwall and Regan, has his white beard yanked by Regan, to which his response is to state “by the kind gods, ’tis most ignobly done to pluck me by the beard” and “I am your host. With robber’s hands my hospitable favours.” Again, Gloucester is so accustomed to being treated with respect by guests of his castle and is appalled to be abused in such a way, Regan mocking the purity of the white hairs which make his beard because she believes he is an impure traitor. In Elizabethan times, hosts were well respected by their guests as it is their land and therefore they have the power to control who enters and leaves. Today, it is still in human nature to wish to be respected in their homes, this being evident by children displaying manners to parents whilst sleeping over at their friend’s house or thanking the host whilst dining in their home.

This being said, both the King and the Earl of Gloucester are both entitled to holding authority and being respected by others in Elizabethan times and any act of doing otherwise which isn’t punished is considered the ultimate injustice of the world. The concept of justice is continuously brought up in the play since the horrid mistreatment of the King is so unheard of in Elizabethan England, injustice being indicated by there being no proper trials and punishments administered to the daughters and their husbands who have so deeply wronged Lear and Gloucester further adds to the shock and pity felt by the audience. Not only does this further vilify the daughters in the eyes of the audience, but it makes the world of the play more tragic and distressing to witness in action, the merciless victimising of Lear making the audience very uncomfortable and want to aid the poor man to a better life as opposed just sitting there helplessly and observing him become reduced to a wretched beast. During the storm, Lear’s utterance of injustice is seen when he angrily protests “Find out their enemies now. tremble, thou wretch, that hast within thee undivulged crimes unwhipped of justice… I am a man more sinned against than sinning.” Lear is overcome with vengeance, urging to find his daughters enemies to help him deliver justice and make them pay for their crimes. Lear believes that he has endured more injustice than he has given others injustice, which is an interesting concept since Cordelia and Kent realistically could be just as angry as he is now for being banished by someone they admire and love, but instead, they forgive and continue to respect and admire Lear. However, Lear being king possibly makes his banishment more of injustice in Elizabethan times (due to the divine right of King)and is, therefore, a more sinful act, indicating that Lear speaks truly in the audience’s perspective.

The mock trial in act 3 scene 6 is a key moment in the play which highlights the fact that there is no justice left in this world. The only method of obtaining justice for the ingratitude and merciless mistreatment from Lear’s daughters is to have a fake trial in a dusty old farmhouse, wherein the guilty are four-legged stools hallucinated as the vile criminals they are in Lear’s mind. The fact that this mock trial is the only way of Lear obtaining justice indicates that there will never be any justice for such horrific crimes against someone with great power as the king, this concept being inaccurate in the Elizabethan world therefore shocking audience members attending the play. Lear shouts “What store her heart is made on. Stop her there! Arms, arms, sword, fire! Corruption in the place! False justicer, why hast thou let ‘scape?”, in accusation against the false justice of the trial, Edgar and the Fool not taking the trial seriously (“I took you for a joint-stool”). The daughters escape without punishment even in this false trial and Lear claims that this is a corrupt world. Injustice is common in our world, from the myth of the American Dream to the white favoritism faced by minorities in the criminal justice system. It is the harsh nature of the world that it is unfair, people will be cruel and evil and do terrible things like vicious animals preying on the helpless as described in the play.

Lear states early in the play, after Cordelia refuses to verbally express her love to Lear, that “nothing will come of nothing”, meaning that out of nothing comes nothing. However this seems false, since it is Cordelia saying nothing which causes Lear to become furious and banish her and Kent, leaving all of the power to be inherited by Goneril and Regan, thus allowing Lear to be vunerable to being torn of his privelage. If Cordelia hadn’t said nothing, Lear would be happy and give a third of his kingdom to her and move in with her since Cordelia is the only daughter who displays kindness. The entire tragedy stems from Cordelia saying nothing, therefore the saying ‘nothing comes of nothing’ is ironic. The lesson may be that no good will come out of being stubborn and holding your ground and this is evident when Lear brings up the concept of nothing again, after being kicked out of Gloucesters castle, stating “No, I will be the pattern of all patience, I will say nothing.” This indicates that he is doing the same as Cordlelia is doing, despite the Fool and Kent advising him not to, and not fighting against those who have wronged him by giving in and doing what they wish him to do.