King Lear outlines ideas about many important issues

that are still relevant today. Students are to discuss at least one
issue seen in King Lear with references to at least 2 scenes
Issues:
Appearances vs reality
Nothing is what it seems. Everyone has a hidden trait that they hide from the people around them.
Appearance vs reality is a major issue that has embedded itself into everyday life. The
play King Lear by William Shakespeare portrays the theme of Appearance vs Reality within the play.
The difference between Reality and Appearance is that Reality reveals the truth of what it is
whereas Appearance is what is observed and been interpreted into our opinion. During the play
Goneril, Regan, Edmund and The Fool are the main depiction of how the theme Appearance vs.
Reality is highlighted through the text. Through the reflection of these characters, the uncovering
of how we reveal ourselves in society is understood hence why it is still relevant to todays time.
Appearance in everyday lives are the perceptions that one has conducted to be seem, as they want
it to be seen not as what it really is. In Act 1 Scene 1, the love test displays Goneril affectionate
love towards her father, Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; Her declaration
was structured as iambic pentameter , indicating that her speech was rehearsed highlighting the
false affection towards her father. However King Lears pride had blinded him from the truth
causing him to be ignorant and only accepting what he sees and not what to perceive.
Appearance is also a recurring theme portrayed in the parallel subplot between Edmund and his
father, Gloucester. In Act 1 Scene 2, Edmund betrays his brother and deceives his father which
grants of his fathers loyalty All with mes meet that I can fashion fit this explains that Edmund is
willingly to do anything to gain what he desires and so he puts a constant faade to his father,
hiding his true intentions. Therefore the issue of Appearance allows people to falsify their true
intentions which are always occurring throughout time.
Reality reveals the truth of a person after a development of their character has been made, which
can be achieved through understanding and knowledge of the person. In Act 2 Scene 4, King Lear
is shown to be cast out of Regans home by both of his daughter. Throughout the scene a storm
appears, which is a motif during the play, symbolising a disorder within society. This accentuates
the unethical manners the daughters display to their father associating it as a disruption. The
treatment the Lear receives allows us to interpretate the girls real character, as vicious and
malevolent.
In Act 1 Scene 2 Edmund delivers a soliloquy expressing his dissatisfaction with societys attitude
toward bastards. Lag of a brother? Why bastard? Wherefore base? The rhetorical questions
direct thoughts to the reader and therefore we sympathise with his character and through the
knowledge context of the 1600s we can comprehend why he acts the way he is. Therefore it can be
assess that a societys ethics shaped the aspect of a person. This develops our understanding that
the reality of who a person is, can be constructed from how a society influences it hence it is
revelant today as it explains why a person is the way they are.
Everyone is not who they seem to be. The fools character in the play portrays one of significant
roles related to the theme Appearance vs. Reality. Generally, the fool is displayed as a comic relief
who abates the dramatic tension with his witty insults and riddles. Ironically the fool is the most
insightful character, who makes sound observations and realises the truth within it. The Fool
criticises the King about his ignorance through jokes as he jests, thoughhast little with in thy bald
crown/When though gavest thy golden one away. Naturally the King takes no seriousness to what
the fool had spoken. Kent initially mistakes the Fools jests as banter, saying This is nothing, Fool.
Kent eventually sees past the Fools appearance and says, This is not altogether fool, my lord.
The fools appearance is deceptive as he is stereotypically viewed as a foolish person however as a
reader, we are able to interpret the jokes as truth of what is occurring in the play. This can

hypothesise that a persons thought is prejudicial which makes them ignorant to the truth and the
fool represents how society assumes one another and therefore in consequence they never fully
understand a person .
Ultimately every individual hides the reality of who they are. Their appearances only reveal a
component of their character for many to see, yet as the person develops the reality of who they
really are is shown throughout their personality and it is then discovered who a person really is.
The issue of Appearance vs Reality is continually applied throughout life no matter how much time
has passed.