Justice in “King Lear” Essay

Many themes be evident in faggot Lear, but perhaps one of the most prevalent relates to the theme of rightness. Shakespeargon has develop a tragedy that every(prenominal)ows us to gather macrocosms decent into chaos. Al grand pianogh Lear is perceived as a man to a greater extent infernal regionned against than sinning (p.62), the treat ment of the main characters encourages the commentator to reflect on the presence or insufficiency of hardlyice in this world. The characters in like manner vary in their inclination to see to it the world from either a fatalist or moralistic point of view, dep conclusioning on their views about the presence or absence seizure of a higher power. The theme of effectiveice in relation to higher powers squeeze out be illustrated from the perspective of King Lear, Gloucester, and Edgar. When interpretation King Lear, it is helpful to understand the Elizabethan kitchen stove of Being in which dis fleck is viewed as baffleliness. Rosen blatt (1984) states that in that respect was a flavour in an established hierarchy at seekt the universe. Every subject had its own relative position theme with Heaven, the Divine Being, and the stars and planets which are all higher up. On earth the king is next, then the nobles, on down to the peasantry. Holding the lowest position were the beggars and lunatics and finally, the animals. Interrupting this order is unnatural.King Lears sin was that he disrupted this chain of macrocosm by relinquishing his throne. By allowing his young ladys and their husbands to principle the kingdom, the natural order of things was disturbed. His notion that he whoremaster still be in control after dividing the kingdom is a delusion. According to Elizabethan philosophy, it would come out that this is the setoff of his mistakes and is also the cause of much of the bad luck that occurs later on in the play. nut house rules the unnatural. As well, King Lear makes an some other crushing mistake which affects his relationship with his daughters by inquire them to tell him how much they love him in order that he may dissociate his kingdom according to the strength of their love. Cordelia, the youngest daughter, states that she loves her receive according to her bond (p.4). She is saying that she loves him as much as any sister could love a aim. On the other hand, Goneril and Reagan easily speak the excogitates that their breed wants to hear, rather than the truth. Because Lear is not satisfied with Cordelias response, he turns his back on Cordelia and on her love. By doing this he is destroying the natural family whole and lacks the insight to know this. He unjustly punishes Cordelia by banishing her from the kingdom.He casts out his daughter in an unfatherly fashion, hitherto is gravely broken in by the ingratitude of his other twain daughters, Goneril and Reagan. Once again, due to Lears lack of wisdom, he fails to recognize the sincerity of Cordelias wo rds. Thus, he puts his relationship with his daughters in jeopardy which results in a constant radical of grief for King Lear. King Lear holds secure to his belief that the world is governed by the gods and in rightness. Therefore he does not caput the will of the gods in letting him pay off from his daughters unkindness, but prays If it be you that stirs these daughters hearts Against their father, fool me not with so much To bear it tamely give-up the ghost me with noble anger (p.50).Greer (1986) reminds us that Shakespeare uses the word disposition often, but rarely with the comparable heart and soul. For instance, Lear per paroleifies nature when he calls Cordelia a poor devil whom Nature is ashamed/Almost to intromit hers (p.9). Here, it seems as though Lear thinks himself to be oddly special and close to nature because he is presumptuous in believing that he female genitalia read Natures mind. On the same note, Lear also seems to order his goddess, Nature, as tho ugh he is in control. He commands Nature to follow his orders, Hear, Nature, hear dear goddess, hear Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend To make this creature oval-fruited (p.29).Therefore, Lear is once again disturbing the order of things by putting himself above the gods. Lear disturbs the Chain of Being, unjustly punishes Cordelia and misinterprets his role in flavor by assuming himself to be the captain of creation. For these sins he is punished when Goneril and Reagan turn on him and Cordelia dies. Thus, it would seem that evaluator is served. However, Holloway (1961) suggests that Lear suffers more for his sins than seems reasonable. Holloway sums up this concept as follows the world can be to mankind, and has been to Lear, a rack a scene of pang reiterated past all probability or reason (p.506). Gloucester plays a parallel role to Lear in the play. He is elderly, gullible and taken in by his children. Again, the natural unit of the family is disturbed for Gloucest er has a bastard son who is his downfall. However, unlike Lear, he is not weak and infirm and is more erect- natured and brave. Like Lear, Gloucester makes reference to Nature. However, Greer (1986) feels that Gloucester views Nature as neutral and sees it existing only for mans benefitThese late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us. Though the wisdom of nature can reason it thence and thus, yet nature finds itself scourged by the sequent cause (p.15). Rather than blame Nature, Gloucester is aware that his problems are a result of his own foolishness. He does not feel that the gods are needed to explain Edmunds treason or Cornwalls brutality. However, he does make give notice his belief that the gods are not enkindle in the affairs of men As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods. They defeat us for their sport (p.82). Although it may seem as though he is an atheist, Frye believes other Gloucester is not atheist he postulates gods, foretell personalities, and if he replaces them with a mechanism of hazard or destiny he couldnt ascribe malice to it. What he feels is that in that respect is some mystery in the aversion of whats happened to him that goes beyond the tangible kind-hearted causes (p.111). It is true that Gloucester has been lustful and has fathered an illegitimate son as the consequences. Since this, too, is an unnatural act, it seems justice moldiness be served to restore order. However, to what degree is Gloucester amenable for Edmunds evil behaviour? And was it just that Gloucesters eyes were poked out by Goneril and Reagan? This leaves one wondering whether or not justice was served as Gloucester dies at the end of the play.The punishment would seem to exceed the crime. Edgar is Gloucesters legitimate son who is in riskiness of losing his right to his inheritance. At first, he is the good and dutiful one. At times he is gullible and naive when responding to his illegitimate pal Edmund, who tries to take his birth-r ight. Edgar is the moralist in this play. When he reflects on his own undeserved troubles and the suffering of others, there is a religious tone. He has faith in the gods and their justice, and is quick to give the higher powers the credit for what happens to men. Thus, he says to Gloucester, who believes he has fallen from the edge of a fall Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours Of mens impossibilities, have preserved thee (p.96). And thus he points out the justice of the gods in punishing Gloucester by the hand of Edmund The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices Make instruments to plague us (p.119). Edgar believes that there is order in nature. He thinks that there is a natural lower and flow in world fortunes, meaning that even the crush situation can become better (Greer, 1986). He believes in the Wheel of Fortune and if he is at the bottom of the wheel, his fortune will amend as he moves upward To be the strap, The lowest and most dejected thing of fortu ne, Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear.The lamentable change is from the best The worst returns to laughter. Welcome, then, Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace (p.81). However, he comes to realize that this belief is not necessarily so. When he finds his father blinded, it becomes obvious that this suffering is renewed The worst is not So long as we can say This is the worst (p.82). Greer (1986) comments that it may seem that nature is in divers(prenominal) to the show of any individual. Edgar differs from Gloucester in that he takes a moralistic point of view. Frye suggests that while Gloucester feels that there is some mystery in the offense of whats happened to him that goes beyond the tangible human causesEdgarlooks for human causes and assumes that there are powers above who are reacting to events as they should (p.111).In Edgars case it seems that he has received his just reward. He does not have an well-situated time when dealing with his brother, Edmund. Yet, i t would seem that justice is served as Edgar regains his proper position in the natural order of things. In King Lear, each of the characters discussed have varying interpretations of the impressiveness of the higher powers affecting their fortunes. As well, justice is handed out in different degrees. In the eyes of the characters, Shakespeare succeeds in illustrating the everyday conflict that members of society have forever and a day had in understanding their fate in this world.