To What Extent Do You Agree with the Idea That King Lear Deserves His Fate?
King Lear inevitably meets his downfall by the end of the play, this happens through a combination of factors both in his direct control and through ways which are entirely out of his hands. Through his daughters disrespecting him through his foolishness over dividing his kingdom, the banishment of certain characters, unsuccessful manipulation and other methods Lear encounters madness and finally his death. From the beginning of the play the viewer can watch Lear deteriorate as his apparent madness intensifies and is helped along through other people such as his daughters Regan and Gonerill. Lear eventually seems to return to his original self regretting how these events started through his foolish banishment of Cordelia however this is momentarily and he later seems to go back to his mad ways. It is only at the very end of the play, when him and Cordelia are reunited with Lear carrying her body in his arms, it is at this point when Lear realizes his wrong doing to Cordelia "You must bear with me. Pray you now, forget and forgive. I am old and foolish".
It is in Act 1 when Lear's mental stability is questioned through subjecting his three daughters Cordelia, Regan and Gonerill to an outlandish love trial in which he asks them to tell to him and many others how much they love him, whoever Lear feels expresses the greatest love for him will obtain the largest section of his land. Unlike Cordelia Regan and Gonerill over exaggerate their feelings for Lear. Gonerill speaks first saying "sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter" this is the abruptly followed by a further six lines. Regan does the same though tries to increase that of Gonerill and therefore receives an even larger portion of land. By this time Lear would be pleased with himself and the way that he must look to his surrounding people but when Cordelia is simply honest with her love Lear cannot understand, after they have exchanged words Lear's pride is battered, especially in front of his
It is in Act 1 when Lear's mental stability is questioned through subjecting his three daughters Cordelia, Regan and Gonerill to an outlandish love trial in which he asks them to tell to him and many others how much they love him, whoever Lear feels expresses the greatest love for him will obtain the largest section of his land. Unlike Cordelia Regan and Gonerill over exaggerate their feelings for Lear. Gonerill speaks first saying "sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter" this is the abruptly followed by a further six lines. Regan does the same though tries to increase that of Gonerill and therefore receives an even larger portion of land. By this time Lear would be pleased with himself and the way that he must look to his surrounding people but when Cordelia is simply honest with her love Lear cannot understand, after they have exchanged words Lear's pride is battered, especially in front of his