Self-discovery in Shakespeares King Lear :: King Lear essays

Self-discovery in King Lear         Through the class of the play, King Lear goes through a process ofattaining self-knowledge, or true hatful of ones self and the world. With thisknowledge, he goes through a change of person, much the like a caterpillar into abutterfly. In the beginning, King Lears vanity, and the image and action ofpower dominate his person. But a series of eviles (based on his own baddecisions), a fool of a conscious, a decently storm, a supposed crazy man,and the death of the one who authentically love him, clear his vision and allow him tosee the himself and the world as they truly are. The pain and suffering enduredby Lear eventually tears down his say-so and sanity.  Lear is not as strong,arrogant, and  filled with pride as he was in the beginning of the play insteadhe is weak, scared, and a confused senior man.  At the end of the play Lear hascompletely lost his sanity with the loss of his daughter Cordeli a and this isthe thing that breaks Lear and leads to his death.         In the beginning, King Lear shows his need for praise is how he optsto divide his kingdom among his daughters. The one who praises him with the mostgusto shall receive the largest sweep of land. This is even more unpatterned whenyou consider that he already has separate up the kingdom before the praising evenbegins. As evident as he gives each daughter her land before audition the nextdaughters praise. Thus the who thing is just a show and an egotism boost to himself.It is because of his love for praise that makes him react so strongly toCordelia and Kent when they do not act as he would like them to. It could be verbalise he is like a child who doesnt remember all that his family has through forthem, but only sees them saying no to a piece of candy. In the play, this isshown in his banishment of Cordelia and Kent. Kent is probably one of the mostloyal spate in the room (no t to mention his kingdom), and it is Cordelia thattruly does love Lear. But because they choose not to contribute to this egotrip, they are banished. In fact, he threatens to kill Cordelia if she is foundin ten days. Lear says,                 Upon our kingdom if, on the one-tenth day following,                Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions,                The moment of thy death.