Badstuebner 1 Kyle Badstuebner DeMaio Period F April 26, 2012

Depiction of Lear as a Tragic Hero Lear is the king in the play King Lear by Shakespeare. Lear begins into tragedy and insanity by giving away all of his land to his corrupt daughters. It then progressed because his daughters began to shun him, which caused him to question his decisions. As he fell deeper into insanity, he began to lose respect, and his knights, which were the only part of his kingdom that he had left. Shakespeare tries to imply the doom that society will eventually encounter through Lears qualities, conflicts, and the structure of the play that outline him as a tragic hero. One factor that supports the idea that King Lear is a tragic hero is the qualities he shows throughout the play. Lear has the quality of a great man because he was a king. This supports the idea that Lear can be a tragic hero because the tragic heroes of plays usually are great men. This is important because he had few close friends, which meant his fall into insanity affected them as well. This shows the importance of his character in comparison to others. Another quality of a tragic hero that can be seen in Lear is how he reveals his flaw in an obsession for love from his daughters. The quote Here I disclaim all my paternal care, propinquity, and property of blood, and as a stranger to my heart and me hold thee from this forever (1.1.125-128). This quote is being said by Lear as he disowns his daughter Cordelia. He does this because hes enraged that his favorite daughter had no words of love to give him for the dowry he was going to impose on her. This reveals his flaw because it shows his progression into madness as he ages. This is shown through his actions and emotions when he banishes his daughter, whom was his favorite. The line Here I disclaim all my paternal care shows Lear disowning Cordelia. This quote

Badstuebner 2 supports the idea that Shakespeare is trying to imply that society will always be doomed because Cordelia was the last person Lear would disown, however in a fit of rage he did so. This then causes problems later on in the play. Shakespeare shows the idea that society will always be doomed through Lear being a tragic hero because of conflicts Lear encounters. Lear has to face an internal conflict of struggling to keep his sanity. This is his internal conflict because hes trying to hold back the madness by claiming that he isnt insane. This shows hes struggling because he has to claim that hes not mad even though people are telling him that he is. Lears external conflict is the battle between him and his daughters Goneril and Regan. A quote that shows this conflict is I have another daughter who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable (1.2.322-323). This quote is being said by Lear after cursing his daughter for trying to take away his knights. This is an example of the conflict between them because Lear is essentially being kicked out of Gonerils castle. This shows that Lear is losing respect and power because he gave his land to his daughters. Him saying who, I am sure, shows that he questioned for a second whether his other daughter Regan was a reliable source to go to. This also supports the idea of a conflict between him and his daughters because he cant rely on either of them to help him. This also shows Shakespeares implication that society will always be doomed because Lear starts to doubt those he used to trust deeply. Furthermore, the way that the play is told further supports the idea that Lear is a tragic hero. One part of the structure thats found in the play and tragic hero plays is the exposition. In acts 1-2, the reader learns of the characters traits, the conflict between Lear and his daughter Cordelia, and that Lears fall into insanity. Another part of the structure is the rising actions. During this phase, the tragic hero Lear is gradually being isolated from society. This is shown

Badstuebner 3 from betrayal from his family and friends that he once trusted, and losing his last source of power, which was his knights. This is important because his power is disappearing as his madness keeps becoming eminent. The quote Be then desired, by her that else will take the thing she begs, a little to disquantity your train (1.4.254-256) shows that Lears last symbol of power being taken away from him. This is shown when Goneril says a little to disquantity your train. This means that she wants Lear to dismiss his knights, whom are the last people he has to remind himself that he was once a king. This is important because after Lear loses his knights, he finally falls into insanity which leads to the resolution. The resolution of the play is when Lear finally overcomes the madness and comes to his senses after meeting with Cordelia. This is important because Lear finally sees what hes done and tries to fix it, but fails in the end. Lear failing to fix his wrongdoings supports the idea that society is doomed because through all of Lears efforts, he still couldnt solve the problems that were created after fighting through what was corrupting him throughout the play. In analysis of King Lear by Shakespeare, Lear is considered a tragic hero because of his gradual fall into insanity, his loss of power, and his failure to solve his problems after being able to see clearly for the first time. Also, Shakespeare implies that society is doomed through these attributes because of how Lear is unable to solve the conflict of the play in the end after finally having the abilities to do so.