King Lear Character Analysis Essay

The primary purpose of Shakespeare’s “King Lear”is the tragedy and focus of the fall of a noble character due to a tragic flaw. Shakespeare’s main purpose was perhaps to emphasize on the idea that tragedies intend to show how our very own human nature can turn out to be our worst enemy. In “King Lear,” the reader gets to see how Lear suffers from his tragic flaw, which includes of arrogance and misjudgements. Because of his tragic flaw, King Lear makes bad decisions. When he announces his plan in dividing the kingdom between his three daughters he orders them to speak up and say which daughter loves him the most. He does this not thinking about the consequences; he expects Cordelia, his favorite daughter, to speak up instead Goneril and Regan
I find it quite ironic how Gloucester finally ‘sees’ and understands his world until he loses his vision. I believe Shakespeare most likely did this to create tension. As a reader, I find it truly amazing how Shakespeare made Gloucester ‘mentally’ blind by not realizing his son’s loyalties by then making him physically blind and making him ‘see,’ ironically, how Edmund had deceived him. I also found it quite ironic how King Lear decides to divide the land between Goneril and Regan and refuses to share the land with the only daughter who truly loves him, Cordelia. I believe King Lear let his pride get to him by not thinking about the consequences. It is safe to say the theme of this play is the inability to see things for what they are. As the story progresses the reader gets to see how King Lear’s stubbornness gets him absolutely nowhere. He had no reason to accuse Cordelia for being ‘unfaithful’. After all, she was the only one who truly loved him. It is also ironic how King Lear banished Kent, his most loyal servant for saying things for what they were for. As a good ‘friend’ Kent decided to let Lear know that what he did was wrong and unnecessary. Because of this Lear’s pride was hurt and this caused him to make irrational