In William Shakespeare’s play King Lear, madness is presented through all characters in the play. The presence of madness is first displayed in act one, when King Lear disclaims Cordelia and gave his kingdom to his deceiving daughters, Goneril and Regan. Eventually, King Lear realizes the betrayal of Goneril and Regan and regrets his decision to disown Cordelia.
But in the play, there is not a clear distinction between madness and sanity. Which character is possessed with madness? Which character is ‘normal’? King Lear certainly seemed to be abnormal, but King Lear could be a normal old king who wanted to gain attention and love from his daughters. Goneril and Regan also could be possessed with madness, the madness of materialistic desire; for Goneril and Regan, King Lear was not a father, but a source of wealth and prestige. Cordelia was presented as the most truthful and normal character, but if she expressed her love as her sisters did, she could easily obtain significant wealth and power. Why did not she express her love? If her love was truthful, she could have expressed her love. To me, Cordelia seems to be just another mad character.
Other than King Lear’s family, Edmund, Kent, and even a fool are subjected to the madness. Madness motivates Edmund ‘the bastard’ to deceive his father and get rid of Edgar. Kent is the most loyal character, but certainly is not a sane character either. Fool is actually most intelligent character in this play, which makes him abnormal character in the play.
Which character in the play is mad? Shakespeare did not provide a certain answer for the question.
Madness seems to be a theme that plagues almost every character in this play. King Lear for instance has emotions that seem to fluctuate throughout the play. His daughters, Regan and Goneril, come to the conclusion that King Lear is crazy; however, it is by Regan and Goneril’s actions that causes his madness. I have pity for King Lear. He gives his two daughters his kingdom and in return they treat him as a peasant. In Act 2 scene 4, Regan and Goneril refuse to let King Lear stay with them during a big storm after a feuded argument. As a result, King Lear is forced to find shelter elsewhere in the treacherous weather. Only insane daughters would treat their father like that.
ReplyDeleteI understand that King Lear has gone crazy; yet, what is Goneril and Regan's excuse? Money and power is not an acceptable answer. Goneril and Regan are the true mad characters because of their mistreatment to their father.
Prestige appears to be Goneril and Regan's number one priority Carissa. I also agree that King Lear's daughters have truly gone mad. The authority and power they now possess has ultimately enabled them to prevail over their father King Lear. Throughout the play it can be easily assumed that King Lear has gone insane; however his daughter’s crude and evil behavior proves otherwise. I am also sympathetic towards King Lear and his efforts to make his daughters happy. Although both Goneril and Regan assume King Lear has become nothing but an old senile man, their ability to disown him only proves how evil they truly are.
ReplyDeleteThis causes me to question whether or not King Lear has gone insane at all. I believe that he is currently suffering from denial, and cannot believe the betrayal he has experienced from his own daughters.