Discussion Topic

The relationship between the themes of "nothing" and "identity" in King Lear

Summary:

In King Lear, the themes of "nothing" and "identity" are intertwined. Lear's journey from king to a state of nothingness strips away his identity, revealing the core of his humanity. The concept of "nothing" challenges characters to confront their true selves, as seen in Lear's descent into madness and Gloucester's literal and metaphorical blindness, both leading to profound realizations about identity.

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Discuss the theme of "nothing" in King Lear.

This is a great question. Shakespeare returns again and again to the idea of "nothing" in King Lear, from the very beginning, when Cordelia offers "nothing" to her father to win her portion of his lands, and Lear tells her that "nothing will come of nothing." As the play goes on, other characters indicate that Lear is right—but not in the way he thought. Lear himself is indicated to be "nothing," and increasingly so as age begins to take hold of him. His Fool tells him that he is "an O without a figure," and that, having at least the identity of a fool, he is "better" than the king is now—"thou art nothing." Lear is no longer a king; what defined him has been taken away from him, and he is declining mentally, too. The Fool uses the analogy of an egg which, having two crowns, at least has "meat" in the middle; Lear, by contrast, has given away his crown and has nothing left.

The Fool is a fascinating character in this play, as he is often the only person who dares to speak the truth. As a Fool, he is beloved of Lear and tasked with entertaining him, but in truth, he is also the king's caretaker and the only person who can state frankly what is happening. In the latter part of the play, the Fool has disappeared, and Lear becomes even more unstable, more "nothing" without his Fool to support and define him. By the end, Lear is seeing things that are not there, his eyes useless to him, a contrast to the literal blindness of Gloucester, who, like Lear, refused to see the truth of his children. Nothing has come of Cordelia's "nothing," the play leaving her murdered, while nothing has come of Lear or his plans, either.

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In King Lear, how are the themes of "identity" and "nothing" related?

The two themes collide in this play in Act I scene 1, when Cordelia gives her truthful yet ill-fated answer to her father, in comparison with her sisters, whose responses to Lear show their flattery and deceit. Cordelia uses the word "Nothing" to respond to her father's question about the extent of her love for her father, and Lear responds with the following line:

Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.

The word "nothing" here is incredibly important, because it relates to the theme of identity and the real nature of both Lear and Cordelia. It points towards the overarching theme of appearances vs. reality. Remember that Cordelia has just heard her two sisters give speeches that testify to their great love for their father whereas in reality she knows that they do not care for him. She, to emphasise her love all the more, chooses to let her love be made plain by her actions alone, proving her genuine and real love through deeds rather than mere words. Her identity as the most dutiful, honourable and loving daughter is therefore clearly indicated through the use of the word "nothing."

Lear, on the other hand, shows his very different character through how he uses the word "nothing." He, at the beginning of the play, fails to discern between appearances and reality, and in fact champions appearances over reality in insisting that he will apportion out his kingdom based on the quality of the words his daughters offer him alone. He interprets Cordelia's use of the word "nothing" and her inability to flatter him as being "untender," and as a result disinherits her. Notice his use of the word truth in his response:

Let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower.

For by the sacred radiance of the sun,

The mysteries of Hecate and the night,

By all the operation of the orbs,

From whom we do exist and cease to be,

Here I disclaim all my paternal care...

Ironicaly, Lear uses the word "truth" when he is not able to see the "truth" and understand the depth of Cordelia's regard for him. Lear's identity as a foolish old man who is unable to differentiate between appearances and reality is revealed through his response to the word "nothing."

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