To many readers, Shakepeare’s plays seem to be written in a foreign language. Sometimes the words are familiar but don’t seem to carry the same meaning as they do today. But Shakespeare’s English is really not that different from modern American English. Learning a few word meanings can make reading the plays much easier and ...
Inversion Sets the Stage In the play’s opening scene, King Lear sets the mechanism of inversion in motion by dividing his kingdom between his evil daughters, Regan and Goneril, disowning his good daughter, Cordelia, and banishing his loyal servant, Kent. In so doing, he “divests” himself of those persons who represent goodness, honesty, loyalty, and ...
Ironically, it is not until King Lear is mad and Gloucester blind that the characters are allowed some clarity as to the true nature of their errant ways. Although Gloucester and King Lear acquire different maladies during the play, Shakespeare parallels both difficulties as guides to greater insight. In what follows, I will examine the ...
It is fairly safe to say that human nature is something that Shakespeare was intent on articulating through his works. To be more specific, he was intent on articulating the concept of consequences we face because of our wrongs. For example, his characters King Lear, Macbeth, and Othello-though not inherently villainous-made specific choices that not ...
Introduction Between 1603 and 1606, William Shakespeare inducted a new tragedy into his portfolio of plays. This story revolved around an egotistical potentate who committed the peccancy of pride. Through this sin, the protagonist affected his fellow man in a negative way within the universe of Shakespeare’s own King Lear. The Summary William Shakespeare’s King ...
