Exile In King Lear By William Shakespeare

Exile plays a significant role in The Tragedy of King Lear by William Shakespeare. Exile, being both alienating and enriching, is seen throughout this play. A character that experiences this is Edgar, son of Gloucester. Edgar goes from high status and beloved to poor Tom who is seen as mad and hated by most. In his journey, he is ostracized but also becomes enriched in ways he might have never been able to be. Through the use of Edgar’s experiences, Shakespeare emphasizes the principal idea of exile and the theme of human resilience to structure the thematic principal that human resilience is one of the most important ideas in the King of Lear. In the beginning, Edgar is portrayed as a noble with high status. He comes from a high status family and lives in luxury. His Father, the Earl of Gloucester, is one of the main advisors for the king.”{ADD QUOTE}”. [EXPLAIN QUOTE]. This sets up the frame for the theme of resilience.
After being deceived by his brother Edmund into thinking that his father is wants to kill him, Edgar finds his life spiraling downward. “Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended him; and at my entreaty forbear his presence until some little time hath he qualified the heat of his displeasure, which at this instant so rageth in him that with the mischief of your person it would scarcely allay. (1.2.155-160)” In these lines, Edmund tells Edgar that he has offended his father in some way. He warns that his father is enraged at him. This is where we can mark the beginning of Edgar’s exile. He goes from his high status position into the poor squalor named poor Tom as he is exiled from his home. As poor Tom, Edgar undergoes many trials. Such is the cause of his madness {Quote}. [EXPLAIN QUOTE]. This beginning is one of many events that points resilience as a main thematic