King Lear is a play which shows the progress of a 'King'
becoming a 'Man'.
Or,
Discuss the theme of self-knowledge in King Lear.
Lear, aged King of Britain, wishing to shake off the
responsibilities of kingship, plans to divide his realm among his three
daughters. He proposes to make his gifts dependent upon each daughter's
testimony of love for him. The King is pleased with the flattering protestation
of love of the first and second daughters, Goneril and Regan .in high flown
language. To each Lear gives a goodly
portion of his kingdom, although still he restrains his royal title. But
Cordelia is cast off completely because her restrained expression of simple
love and duty enrages the king. However, of the two suitors, the young King of
France, aware of her spiritual beauty and honest worth, takes her as his wife
without any dowry. The King declares that he will make his home with Goneril
and Regan in turn' but in fact, Lear has to pay very dearly for his rash
decision and foolishness.
From the very beginning of the play we note that Lear is not
only very rash, passionate and lacking in self-control but also autocratic tyrannical,
the result of a long period of despotic rule. This is seen in the way in which
he disowns Cordelia and exiles Kent. Indeed he has almost forgotten that he is
a man. The curses, he showers first the head of Cordelia and then on Goneril
and Regan, show that he possesses supernatural powers. He loves pomp and
splendid living as is shown by his retaining a hundred knights even after his
abdication.
Lear had an essential noble disposition but it is power that
has corrupted him. Again it is suffering that revives his true greatness
and his soul. In prosperity he lacked
self-control but in adversity he makes pathetic attempts to practice restraint
and self-control.
It is when fallen on evil days that the autocratic and oppose
less King tolerates the persistent and cutting reminders on the part of the
Fool of his own folly and wrong. It is when he is turned out of doors and has
to face the buffets of the pitiless storm that his real nobility and grandeur
of soul is awakened. It is only through this ordeal that Lear begins to realize
his oneness with the commonest of men. It is only during affliction that out of
his solicitude for the poor Fool, he agrees to seek the shelter, he scorns for
his own barehead.
As a king Lear had been selfish and had neglected his
subjects but now he feels for the poor and the sufferers. Gradually he is
purged of all the within him till he realises that power and position and all
things else in the world are vanity except love. He is resigned to his lot, and
would not have it changed. He would be happy with his Cordelia even in prison,
and would sing as birds do in their cages.
Thus Lear's suffering is a process of purification through
which he at last becomes a nobler and better man. The egotistical, vain Lear of
the beginning of the play, reduces himself to an ordinary man and through
suffering learns a lesson that there is nothing that we can call our own but
love.
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