King Lear was first published in 1608 and is one of the numerous tragedies
written by William Shakespeare. However, it is not just any of his tragedies, the
tragedy of King Lear “stands like a colossus at the centre of Shakespeare’s
achievement as the grandest effort of imagination”, says Foakes who is the Editor
of the Arden Edition (Foakes 1997, 1). “In its social range it encompasses a whole
society, from king to beggar, and invites us to move in our imagination between a
royal palace and a hovel on a bare heath” (Foakes 1997, 1). Nevertheless,
“complications have been kept to a minimum” (Brown 2001, 229) by
Shakespeare. Still, this tragedy “is as demanding as any of the others – in some
ways, it is the most epic of them all” (Brown 2001, 229).
Between all the commotion in the plot, Lear’s story “is the one clear and
indisputable element” (Brown 2001, 229). From the beginning to the end, “Lear’s
story is presented in stark and unavoidably physical terms” (Brown 2001, 231).
The threefold dignity of a king, an old man, and a father, is
dishonored by the cruel ingratitude of his unnatural daughters; the
old king, who out of a foolish tenderness has given away
everything, is driven out into the world a homeless beggar; the
childish imbecility to which he was fast advancing changes into the
wildest insanity, and when he is rescued from the destitution to
which he was abandoned, it is too late. (Bates 1906))
In a way that was new to himself and almost unknown in the theatre
of his time, Shakespeare constantly drew attention to what his hero
undergoes in body as well as in mind, in his senses as well as in his
thoughts and feelings, achievements, and relations with other
people. (Brown 2001, 231)
In this paper I am trying to follow Lear’s state of mind and thought. The King
goes from power to madness and from royalty to peasantry. But how does he
articulate his deep thoughts and feelings through language? How can the reader
understand his change in mood? The following pages will give some insight on
these topics and will help to a better understanding of the character of King Lear.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Opening of King Lear
3. Approaching Madness
4. Lear and Suffering
5. The Ending of King Lear
6. Summary
Objectives & Core Themes
This paper examines the linguistic evolution of King Lear, tracing his mental and emotional transformation from a powerful monarch to a vulnerable, suffering human being. The study explores how Lear uses language to articulate his shifting state of mind as he moves from royalty to peasantry and eventually faces madness and reconciliation.
- The linguistic analysis of Lear's address forms, specifically 'thou' and 'you'.
- The role of madness as a catalyst for Lear's self-discovery and humanization.
- The manifestation of physical and psychological suffering in Lear's speeches.
- The irony and significance of the "love test" at the play's beginning.
- Lear's ultimate transition from an authoritative ruler to a broken, humble figure.
Excerpt from the Book
The Opening of King Lear
“No other opening scene of a Shakespeare tragedy puts before us so swiftly, so inevitably, so irreversibly its tragic node” (Grene 1992, 157).
The story starts with the aged king who is going to give away his land and power to his three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. “The opening scene is in cool, even bantering prose” (Kermode 2000, 185). Lear is strong, he stands alone and “orders everything, and everyone responds to his slightest word or hesitation” (Brown 2001, 232):
Lear: Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. (I.i.33)
Gloucester: I shall, my lord.
Lear: ....Give me the map there. (I.i.36)
When ordering the map, marking out his kingdom and the future divisions, Lear once again shows how great his power is and obviously feels good about himself. Although, in this scene, his power as a king is reduced to a sheet of paper which may easily be torn apart.
In the beginning, Lear is all that we imagine a King to be, he commands, directs and gives great speeches. He is a strong personality and the hierarchy in his kingdom is not questioned. Only the love test makes clear that Lear is not as strong as imagined. “Asking for a token of love is neither unreasonable nor wrong; and Lear, with reason, believes himself to be capable of enforcing it”. But, “it is the form of Lear’s question that irritates” (Berry 1999, 138), ‘Which of you shall we say doth love us most’ (I.i.51). The questioning of his daughters shows Lear’s emotional instability.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the tragedy of King Lear as a grand effort of imagination and outlines the paper's intent to trace the king's state of mind through his changing use of language.
2. The Opening of King Lear: This chapter analyzes the initial state of Lear's power and how his flawed "love test" serves as the catalyst for his family's destruction.
3. Approaching Madness: This chapter examines the signs of Lear's mental decline and his growing awareness of his own vulnerability following Goneril's rejection.
4. Lear and Suffering: This chapter focuses on how Lear internalizes his suffering during the storm on the heath and his subsequent realization of the common human condition.
5. The Ending of King Lear: This chapter explores Lear's final scenes of reconciliation with Cordelia, his capture, and his ultimate transition to a humble state before death.
6. Summary: This final chapter synthesizes the journey Lear takes from a materialistic, power-obsessed monarch to a character defined by his will to endure and his profound capacity for human emotion.
Keywords
King Lear, William Shakespeare, madness, linguistic usage, tragedy, power, Cordelia, suffering, address forms, humanization, emotional instability, the Heath, authority, reconciliation, dramatic analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on tracing the linguistic and psychological journey of King Lear throughout the play, analyzing how his speech patterns reflect his transition from absolute power to total vulnerability.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The main themes include Lear's struggle with power, his evolving relationship with his daughters, the nature of his madness, and his ultimate realization of human suffering and empathy.
What is the primary research goal?
The research goal is to understand how King Lear articulates his inner thoughts and feelings through his language and how the reader can perceive his mental shifts throughout the narrative.
What scientific method is employed?
The author uses a qualitative literary analysis method, examining primary texts from Shakespeare's play and contrasting them with secondary academic interpretations to evaluate Lear’s state of mind.
What is discussed in the main part of the work?
The main part covers the opening love test, the onset of madness after the conflict with his daughters, the internalization of suffering on the heath, and his final days in captivity with Cordelia.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include King Lear, madness, tragedy, suffering, linguistic usage, authority, and humanization.
How does the "love test" in the opening scene illustrate Lear's mindset?
The love test highlights Lear’s emotional instability and his incorrect belief that love is something quantitatively gradable and manageable through rituals, which directly causes the subsequent tragedy.
How does the usage of 'thou' versus 'you' highlight Lear's changing relationships?
Shakespeare uses 'thou' to denote authority, affection, or disdain, while 'you' is used as a neutral form; Lear’s inconsistent shifting between these forms reveals his internal confusion and his distancing from those he once loved.
- Quote paper
- Kati Bach (Author), 2002, King Lear: Lear's Language, Beginning vs. End of the Play, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/15315
