Discuss Lear’s role in the play and explore his journey from tyrant to humanity to death

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Shakespeare’s ultimate Tragedy, King Lear, is indeed a dark and soul-harrowing play. The tragic madness of King Lear, and of the subsequent turmoil that follows from it, is all the more terrible for the king’s inability to cope with the loss of his mind, his family, and his pride. This descent into horror culminates at the tragic conclusion, where both the innocent and the guilty die for other’s mistakes and lack of judgment.
Lear declares that he is ‘more sinn’d against than sinning’ (Act3, Scene2, Lines 59-60) 1, and Cordelia is seen very much as a figure of sacrifice.
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Both Lear and Gloucester must suffer to an extreme degree before they can come to terms with their lives, and their faults; and through their suffering, they gain understanding, and ultimately forgiveness from Cordelia (for Lear) and Edgar (for Gloucester).
Thinking himself old before his time, King Lear allows his vanity to get the better of him when he asks his daughters to publicly declare their love for him.

When his plan goes awry and one of his daughter’s refuses to do it, he cuts her off and leaves her powerless. He divides up Britain between his other two daughters; Regan and Goneril, only to later find out they don’t want him around. Pushed to insanity because of his decision, he learns to hate his two daughters who outwardly spoke their love for him, and love the daughter who refused. Shakespeare shows Lear to have an extremely passionate nature that leads him into trouble that can harm his himself and his comrades.

King Lear commits several acts that are nearly unforgivable. Not only does he exile a trusted, loyal servant, he also banishes his own daughter. Cordelia, unable and unwilling to submit herself to the ridiculous game of her father, is sent off to France with his curses. His subsequent action the division of the land between his two ungrateful daughters is the final act, the final sin, and one that plunges the land into turmoil.
That King Lear sinned; there can be no doubt. Nevertheless, a sin does not exclude the possibility that there was a sufficient cause (in his mind) for the action. Examine, for instance, King Lear’s decision to exile his own daughter, Cordelia.
The King is of an advanced age. Though he will not, can not, admit it, senility is advancing upon him, clouding his brain and influencing his judgement. Combined with his pride, age, and subconscious fear of encroaching mortality, Lear has a great desire for flattery, and more importantly, to have the love of his children reaffirmed before him. After the two first daughters inflate his ego, Cordelia is left in the unenviable position of trying to surpass them. She too will not, can not, bring herself to do so. This comes as a terrible blow to the king. Cordelia, the daughter he respected and loved the most, suddenly refuses to show any signs of her own affection. Fury envelops him:
“Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this for ever.” (Act 1, Scene 1 Lines113-115)
He exclaims, disowning his loving daughter. Unable to balance between his need for respect and his great love for his daughter, he succumbs to the madness that has threatened to overwhelm him.
Unfortunately, Kent then steps in, far too early after Lear’s proclamation. Still riding his wave of anger, King Lear can hardly accept this second violation of his power. Fuelled by the madness, he recklessly banishes the noble from his court. These actions were terrible, and a sin against both; however, in both cases, he had a reason, one that perhaps does not excuse his act, but nevertheless explains it.
His final sin, the division of the land between Goneril and Regan is, upon further examination, hardly a sin at all. It is probable that King Lear had planned ahead to this day for years, and the decision to spread his land between his daughters is not, as some would suggest, folly at all. In fact, it may well have been brilliance. Lear intended to give Cordelia one third of his kingdom, the central, more opulent third of his kingdom, and effectively use her to separate the two other daughters. This would allow Cordelia to maintain the peace. Further plans might have included “a general devolution of his authority as Cordelia grew in political aptitude. His plan is a good one, intended for the betterment of his country. Learn about role of the Fool in King Lear
However, after Cordelia’s betrayal (as he sees it), he loses sight of his plan; blinded by grief, he goes through with it, but forgets the need for the youngest daughter, allowing the two other daughters to exist side-by-side, and leading to dissidence and civil war.
However, his actions do not excuse the responses they bring from his kin and kinsmen. The sins against him the actions of his two daughters and the evilness of Edmund are far greater than those he committed himself. While he may have started the series of events that eventually consumed the land in turmoil, it were those three who propagated the chaos. King Lear is definitely much more sinned against than sinning.
So in conclusion I may say that although he may have had nothing but good intentions, his foolishness and blindness brought all the humility and hardship down upon himself.
Interpretation on whether Lear learnt his lesson is mainly up to the reader and in my eyes, Lear learnt his lesson, the hard way and even though he may be portrayed as the villain who banished Cordelia the real villains are his 2 daughters [Regan and Goneril] who started the ‘ball’ of lies, pain, hardship rolling.
Answering the question yes I do believe that Lear is a ‘Man more sinned against than sinning.’ Because Lear suffers throughout the play from humility and this in turn makes us feel sorrier for a man who was once one of the most respected and powerful figureheads in Britain and gradually has all respect, authority and sanity stripped from him. Lear loses everything. His kingdom, his Fool, his three daughters and his own life. ‘ Come not between the dragon and his wrath.’ Unfortunately, the wrath was too strong for even the dragon himself.

Holly Cummings

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