Bring out the dramatic significance of the subplot in King Lear Or, Examine the use of parallelism in King Lear. Or, What are the advantages of the double plot in King Lear?

Bring out the dramatic significance of the subplot in King Lear

Or,

Examine the use of parallelism in King Lear.

Or,

What are the advantages of the double plot in King Lear?

King Lear consists of two plots, a main plot and a subplot. The main plot centers round the consequences of King Lear's folly in dividing his kingdom between his two selfish and cruel daughters and disowning and turning out his third sincere daughter, Cordelia. The subplot deals with the consequences of the folly of Gloucester in trusting his wicked son Edmund and turning out his noble and sincere son Edgar.

The play has been designed to gain effect through parallelism and contrast of the two plots and that of characters. Firstly, both the stories deal with the same theme i.e. moral disequilibrium. In both stories wrong is committed against the natural order and that order reasserts itself with terrible consequences for the wrong-doer. King Lear commits a wrong both as a father and as a king, and his wrongs recoil on his own head. In the subplot Gloucester violates the natural order in trusting the treacherous Edmund and disowning Edgar and the consequences to him also are terrible. Thus in both the plots the fathers are unfair in the treatment of their children through an error of judgment. Later in both the cases there is the problem of filial duty. The development of both the fathers lies in their acknowledgement of the limitations of insight that prevented them from understanding the children who are sincere.

Secondly, the two stories run closely parallel and each reinforces and heightens the effect of the other. The subplot is but a duplication of the main plot, and this similarity has been emphasized at every point. In the main plot Cordelia is deprived of her due portion of paternal property but she sacrifices herself to save her father from the cruel sisters. In the subplot, Edmund, in eontrast to Cordelia receives well from his father but he seeks his destruction. As for similarity we find, Cordelia and Edgar are closely similar to each other, but Cordelia is also the exact antithesis of Edmund, as Edgar is that of Goneril and Regan.

Further the main and the subplot have been blended together by relating the characters of the play important roles in the other. Thus Gloucester, Edmund and Edgar are closely inter-related with the characters and action of the main plot. Gloucester is an important link, for he holds an important office at Lear's court. He is also in some way, subordinate to Cornwall. His loyalty to Lear brings him in conflict with Cornwall.

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The introduction of the double plot in King Lear, despite the skill of the dramatist carries with it certain disadvantages. It results in overcrowding. Too many characters and too many incidents following each other in quick succession, distract the attention of the readers and weaken the effect. However there are some advantages too, of double plot. It introduces variety and increases the interest Of the play. Individually each of the two stories would appear incredible, a mere incident turning the heart of the fathers against the children, and those of the children against fathers. Together they acquire a universal significance and a meaning.