Essay about Filial Ingratitude in Shakespeares King Lear

Filial Ingratitude in Shakespeares King Lear In Shakespeares King Lear, the main plot, which is focused around the error of King Lear, is mirrored by the subplot, which is based on the Earl of Gloucesters mistake. The main plot parallels the subplot in order to reiterate one of the main themes of the play, filial ingratitude. At first, both Gloucester Lear are unaware that their disloyal offspring are taking advantage of them, and they have wrongfully accused their virtuous heirs. When they discover their mistakes however, it is too late to correct them. In Act I, Scene I, Goneril claims, Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter...a love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; beyond†¦show more content†¦Gloucester banishes his Edgar in a fit of passion, just as Lear banished Cordelia. Both were drawn to their evil childrens flattery. These children then display filial ingratitude when they betray their fathers by deceiving them. Lear and Gloucester both suffer for having trusted the children who flattered them. In Act II, Scene IV, Lear pleads with his daughters to allow him to keep some knights. He reminds his daughter Regan, I gave you all, line 245. She then replies, and in good time you gave it line 246. Though Lear gave his daughters everything they ask him in this argument, What need one? line 250. He begs them to reason not the need, but instead comply wish a simply request, but the selfish, heartless sisters refuse. Much like Lear, Gloucester looses his fortune to his child. Edmund betrays his father by giving a letter to Cornwall, and thus assumes Gloucesters title, This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the duke instantly know; and of that letter too: this seems a fair deserving, and must draw me that which my father loses; no less than all: the younger rises when the old doth fall act III, scene III, lines 18- 23. Lear goes insane, asking Tom OBedlem if he had give[n] all to thy daug hters? And art thou come to this? act III, scene IV, lines 48-49, andShow MoreRelatedDramatic Scene Illustrated in Shakespeares King Lear - Storm Scene891 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s King Lear offers its audience an impossible number of dramatic and memorable scenes, but I have chosen the storm scenes in Act III Scenes 1, 2 and 4 as my key dramatic scenes. The storm provides a dramatic centre to the play. It is used to bring about change, to represent Lear’s inner unrest, to symbolise the power of nature and to expose the play’s characters under the intolerant conditions of thunder and lightning. The scenes in which the storm takes place are very different toRead MoreCharacters in Romeo and Juliet by Williams Shakespeare Essay1024 Words   |  5 Pagesisn’t caused by â€Å"the sun, moon, and stars†. It is the cause of one’s own actions, but people believe that when they suffer, it isn’t their fault, and they blame others. That, according to Shakespeare, is the idiocy of the world. In Shakespeare’s plays, specifically King Lear and Romeo and Juliet, grieving is a common theme, and it makes a greater point about humanity. Shakespeare makes people suffer in his plays to show his audience that suffering in universal and often the product of one’s poor decisionsRead More The Role of Femininity in Shakespeares Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear2337 Words   |  10 PagesThe Role of Femininity in Shakespeares Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear similarly experience an unhooking (Tompkins) in the eponymous plays. These tragic figures struggle with internal and external femininity: after realizing their emotions and labeling them feminine, they identify women as the source of this negative femininity. Their inability to deal with the female gender in any form destabilizes their masculinity, causing an unhooking/unlatching within themRead MoreA Consideration of the Way Shakespeare Presents and Develops the Theme of Blindness in King Lear1563 Words   |  7 PagesA Consideration of the Way Shakespeare Presents and Develops the Theme of Blindness in King Lear Introduction ============ Throughout ‘King Lear’, Shakespeare uses the play’s characters to make judgements on society using blindness as a metaphor that runs through the play. He does this in a number of ways portraying characters that can be fooled by others’ flattery, or are easily manipulated or deceived, or simply have a lack of wisdom. As well as the horrific