Justice In King Lear

Shakespeare's King Lear is a play which shows the consequences of one man's decisions. The audience follows the main character, Lear, as he makes decisions that disrupt order in his Kingdom. When Lear surrenders all his power and land to his daughters as a reward for their demonstration of love towards him, the breakdown on order in evident. Lear's first mistake is to divide his Kingdom into three parts. A Kingdom is run best under one ruler as only one decision is made without contradiction. Another indication that order is disrupted is the separation of Lear's family. Lear's inability to control his anger causes him to banish his youngest daughter, Cordelia, and loyal servant, Kent. This foolish act causes Lear to become vulnerable to

Quintessentially speaking, revenge is a thing that many have sought in response to a tragic event unfolding. Typically, as a result, vengeance is contemplated upon by the victim as a means of retribution, a way of making things right and seeking justice on the behest of the victim, if the law will not grant justice through due process due to corrupt forces stemmed deep within it- corrupt seeds of a corrupt plant. Therefore, revenge become an apparent option for those willing to walk that path [of no return]. However, instances of revenge not being attained in the “clear cut” way it is ordinarily acquired have occurred from time to time throughout history. One of the most prominent examples of unconventional revenge attainment can be found within the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, entailing the revenge path walked by its eponymously named main character, Prince Hamlet. Specifically, his intentful delay in attaining his revenge against his uncle Claudius for his direct role in the death of his father, King Hamlet. This literary conundrum has dumbfounded literary critics for over 400 years and counting- due to the fact that a universally accepted consensus amongst them as well as the general public as to why Hamlet delayed his revenge has not yet been reached.

The overarching theme that surrounds King Lear by William Shakespeare is justice to nearly all. The play opens in a royal “court,” but this court is unjust with wicked people such as King Lear, Goneril, Regan, Duke of Gloucester, Edmund, and numerous others. The justice does not come in this literal court, but the figurative court of nature. King Lear is reprimanded by two of his three daughters along with the natural storm that causes him to lose his mind, Goneril and Regan, whom are wicked are punished by death, Edmund is slaughtered by his brother, Gloucester is punished with the loss of his child, property, wealth, and eyes, and the retribution continues for nearly all the characters. While each player earns their punishment, the most deserving

Douglas Horton once said, “While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself.” Horton clearly knew the ramifications of revenge on the one who sought it. For revenge has the ability the take over a man and it is nearly impossible be to rid of the negative influence revenge has on a person. The quest for revenge destroys all the morals or values one has until all that is left is a shell of a human being who has nothing other than a thirst for revenge. This is never more evident than in King Lear by William Shakespeare as the audience sees that the human need to seek revenge often conquers reason and self-control.

1. Kent reveals to the Gentlemen that tension between Regan’s husband (Albany) and Goneril’s husband (Cornwall) could quite possible result in a civil war. However, aside from the war, the two may be united in plotting against the murder of King Lear. The King of France is preparing to make a move against these two divided house. He may have already sent spies to their households disguised as servants.

In our world, there are people like the woman who yells at her children and disciplines them with physical punishment, but also the boy who talks to the student that always sits alone at the lunch table and is socially different than others. Some people may lead a life based upon universally established morals, while others tend to let out a side of their being that is more beastly than human. Humans have the ability to make choices based on reason, while the animals of the earth have only the capacity to choose the best option for their own survival. Human reasoning, both gracious and grave is witnessed in the words of William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of King Lear. Through both provocative and seemingly angelic characters,

Throughout King Lear, it becomes clear to the audience that Lear does not treat his subjects in a respectable, ethical fashion. Furthermore, evidence in the text suggests that King Lear has behaved this way for the entirety of his reign. It is only when Lear is mistreated and tossed out into the raging tempest that he realizes how unfair many lives are, as he is lowered to the same level of those who are less fortunate. As a result of his guilt and remorse, King Lear vows to act ‘goodly’ and restore justice: “O, I have ta’en / Too little care of this…That thou may’st shake the superflux to them / And show the heavens more just” (III, iv,

Through many of Shakespeare’s plays, tragedy is caused by a series of events that usually stem from human nature. In Shakespeare’s King Lear, the main characters Gloucester and King Lear, find their worlds spiraling rapidly into darkness by cause of mistakes such as, King Lear superficiality, Gloucester’s blindness, and both of their quick to act mentalities have ultimately caused their downfall. All of which, the audience can find them self relating to, in some respect, seeing as they are common human mistakes. As the audience follows the play, they begin to relate to the mistake made by both characters and are able to see how everyday human mistakes can produce undesirable consequences.

   "Only through the loss of our possessions and worldly connections can one truly realize one's inner being" (Confucius). The true nature of man is known but is not commonly seen until adversity strikes. Characters reveal their true nature when they are reduced to nothing. In the play, King Lear, by William Shakespeare, there are three main themes that characters can be reduced by; social status, love and power. Through these three mediums the true nature of the works characters are exposed, by stripping away the innuendo, deceit and superficiality that initially cloaks each character.

How individuals are treated in society is a form of social justice. Lear feels that it is important to not only consider his own needs but those of the people. This can be seen as acts of mercy in a bid to bring out justice in the society. In the 37th line, Act 3, Scene 4 Lear says, “O, I have ta’en Too little care of this! Take physic, pomp; Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, that thou mayst shake the super flux to them, And show the heavens more just.”

It seems ironic that both the oldest characters, Gloucester and Lear, who are blind either metaphorically or physically. They both exemplify that wisdom does not always come with old age. The parallel characters are very important to each other, Lear who is blinded metaphorically, and Gloucester who is physically blinded. Both characters undergo radical changes and their once sightless decisions become regrettable actions. They are unable to see people for who they truly are; thus their tragedy is the journey they must endure to regain sight.

In the revenge play of Hamlet, the idea of poetic justice can be seen throughout the play various times. Shakespeare allows the reader to understand the mistakes of each character by killing them off in a justly manner. While seeking revenge, the main characters of the play earn their poetic ending, permitting Shakespeare to restore the karmic balance of the play. Claudius, Leartes, Polonius, are all killed poetically as a direct result of their actions, while Ophelia is used to reiterate the poetic justices in the other character because of the fact that she is not killed poetically.

Shakespeare’s King Lear fabricated a world of its own, in which distinct virtues and vices were personified by individuals with diverse points of view. With each conflict in the play, the characters’ actions and decisions were parallel to the integrity of their heart and mind, exhibiting the virtue or vice they represented. With this strategy, Shakespeare shares that with trust should come discretion.

The most prevailing images in King Lear are the images (metaphoric and actual) of nature. The concept of nature seems to consume the dialogue, monologues, and setting.

     The play, “King Lear” by William Shakespeare, starts with noblemen Kent and Gloucester having a conversation and the audience finds out that Gloucester has two sons. Edgar who is his heir, and Edmund his unimportant son. This info. leads to the mini-plot. Then, Lear enters to say that he is going to end his life’s tasks and problems. He then points to the map, he tells the people there that he will split his land into three parts. They are going to be given to his three daughters. The two oldest, Goneril and Regan, tell their father that their love for him goes beyond expectations. The youngest one, Cordelia, tells him that she loves him, but only as she should love her father. He is then