King Lear Group

Question:

xxshar09xx
xxshar09xx
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What are some tragic moments in Lear's life? Discuss.

Any useful quotes?

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Posted by xxshar09xx on Tuesday May 19, 2009 at 11:38 AM and tagged with king lear, lear, tragedy.

Answers:


  1. danylyshen Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    It is tragic when half of Lear's royal entourage of knights is disbanded. This demonstrates that Reagan and Goneril do not respect their aged father and are corrupted by the newly acquired power they have attained.

    "Ingratitude, thou marble hearted fiend.." (1.4.270).

    "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child." (1.4.302-3)

    When Lear storms out of his daughter's castle and chooses instead to embrace the harsh and raging storm we see the tragedy of his situation. The internal torment he is suffering is represented in the raging storm. "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow!" (3.2.1)

    Finally, the tragedy is evident after the death of his true Cordelia. Lear says that "...I am bound / upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears / Do scald like molten lead" (4.7.52-54).

    There are many, many more tragic elements in Lear. This is just to get you started.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/lear/themes

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    Posted by danylyshen on Wednesday May 20, 2009 at 6:04 AM