King Lear | Is Lear a Tragic Hero?
In this essay, R. Moore discusses the character of King Lear. Should Lear be regarded as a hero?
Prior to the twentieth century Shakespeare critics tended to interpret King Lear as a conventional or classic tragedy and saw Lear himself as an Elizabethan version of the "tragic hero." Like the ancient Greek character Oedipus, Lear is a majestic figure at the start of the play whose character flaw of hubris or pride compels him to initiate acts that lead to his ultimate demise. In this traditional reading of Shakespeare's King Lear, the hero's downfall, however, has redemptive qualities: a lesson is taught and learned and the audience experiences a sense of moral uplift at...
[The entire page is 900 words long]
Join eNotes
The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:
Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...
Navigate
See Also:
- - Read the King Lear text online.
- - For teachers, the King Lear Lesson Plan.
- - King Lear summary and study guide in the eNotes.
Tell a friend about King Lear at eNotes.
- Add King Lear to your favorites