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King Lear Quote Analysis

Decent Essays

A recurring topic I saw while reading Shakespeare’s “King Lear”, is that the characters often dealt with not fulfilling their life. In the last lines of the play, Edgar states, “The oldest hath borne most; we that are young/ Shall never see so much nor live so long” (King Lear 5.3, 331-332). Edgar, being one of the few characters alive at the end, witnesses all the people around him not living their dreams and wishes. Edgar says this quote to fully end the play on a note that tells the reader to follow your dreams while you can. He knows this because he sees that Lear doesn’t get to fully reconcile with Cordelia because she dies. Edgar also watches Goneril and Regan fight over the attention of his half brother to the point where they die together.

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