King Lear Seven Deadly Sins
(Title)
In the play, King Lear, written by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare displays that all of humanity is susceptible to sin.
In King Lear, Shakespeare puts emphasis on family relationships. In fact, he uses two separate families to show the reader that sin can destroy any relationship even if they share the same bloodline. The main relationship is between King Lear and his daughters, Cordelia, Regan, and Goneril. The relationship between Lear, Regan, and Goneril is quite toxic, however, Lear’s relationship with his youngest daughter, Cordelia, is authentic but does not meet Lear’s standards to devotion. This causes turmoil in Lear’s kingdom when he wants to retire his crown and divide the kingdom amongst his daughters. The other relationship …show more content…
The first example of sin in King Lear would be envy. Envy is the most natural sin to exhibit because it is human nature to have what someone else has. Envy portrayed diligently in the relationship of Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. Between the three sisters, there is quite a competition to win their father’s heart, however, Cordelia is the only one who is truthful. In Regan’s speech to her father in act one scene 1, she states “I find she names my very deed of love; only she comes too short”, referring to Goneril’s speech before she implies that her love is much greater in comparison to Goneril’s affection for her father (1256). Yet the main competition is between Goneril and Regan versus Cordelia. King Lear loves all of his daughters but not equally. In Act one Scene one King Lear says to Kent “I loved her most, and thought to set my rest” in the phrase Lear proclaims his affection for Cordelia and had planned to give her a large portion of the kingdom (1257). This is why Goneril and Regan lied so blatantly to their father’s because they knew it would be hard to compete with Cordelia. Later in Act one scene one Goneril proclaims, “he always loved our sister most, and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off too grossly”, this proves the envy amongst the sisters, and their satisfaction of obtaining the kingdom (1262). However, the jealousies amongst sisters continue between Goneril and Regan when they both fall in love with Edmund later in the play. In fact, Goneril becomes so envious of Regan that she poisons her in hopes to steal Edmund’s heart, but instead of grasping his heart she stabs herself out of embarrassment and guilt. Both Regan and Goneril act upon their envious hearts, and pay the consequences of sin,
In the play, King Lear, written by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare displays that all of humanity is susceptible to sin.
In King Lear, Shakespeare puts emphasis on family relationships. In fact, he uses two separate families to show the reader that sin can destroy any relationship even if they share the same bloodline. The main relationship is between King Lear and his daughters, Cordelia, Regan, and Goneril. The relationship between Lear, Regan, and Goneril is quite toxic, however, Lear’s relationship with his youngest daughter, Cordelia, is authentic but does not meet Lear’s standards to devotion. This causes turmoil in Lear’s kingdom when he wants to retire his crown and divide the kingdom amongst his daughters. The other relationship …show more content…
The first example of sin in King Lear would be envy. Envy is the most natural sin to exhibit because it is human nature to have what someone else has. Envy portrayed diligently in the relationship of Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. Between the three sisters, there is quite a competition to win their father’s heart, however, Cordelia is the only one who is truthful. In Regan’s speech to her father in act one scene 1, she states “I find she names my very deed of love; only she comes too short”, referring to Goneril’s speech before she implies that her love is much greater in comparison to Goneril’s affection for her father (1256). Yet the main competition is between Goneril and Regan versus Cordelia. King Lear loves all of his daughters but not equally. In Act one Scene one King Lear says to Kent “I loved her most, and thought to set my rest” in the phrase Lear proclaims his affection for Cordelia and had planned to give her a large portion of the kingdom (1257). This is why Goneril and Regan lied so blatantly to their father’s because they knew it would be hard to compete with Cordelia. Later in Act one scene one Goneril proclaims, “he always loved our sister most, and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off too grossly”, this proves the envy amongst the sisters, and their satisfaction of obtaining the kingdom (1262). However, the jealousies amongst sisters continue between Goneril and Regan when they both fall in love with Edmund later in the play. In fact, Goneril becomes so envious of Regan that she poisons her in hopes to steal Edmund’s heart, but instead of grasping his heart she stabs herself out of embarrassment and guilt. Both Regan and Goneril act upon their envious hearts, and pay the consequences of sin,