To Troubles Brought On By The Surfeits Essay Example

for dividing his kingdom - to relieve himself of the burdens and responsibilities of ruling, and give them to a more youthful successor. However, his subsequent actions reveal that this plan is only partially sincere. Lear wishes to relinquish his status as monarch, but still craves the power and esteem that comes with it. He maintains a conspicuously large retinue, and is deeply insulted when a subordinate refers to him as "my lady's father", feeling that this reduces his standing even further. Although he has made the decision to divide his lands before his death, he fails to adequately consider the consequences of this move. It is perplexing that a man who has openly announced his intent to relinquish power clings so fiercely to it when challenged.

The King's use of the term 'allegiance' highlights its importance, but also raises doubts about his own decision. It is particularly ironic that he directs his anger towards Kent, his most loyal Earl. As the play progresses, Lear realizes his error and tries to rectify it, but repeatedly discovers that giving up power was easier than regaining it. Shakespeare uses Lear as a metaphor for the inevitability of aging: as children grow up, they take over their parent's roles and time only moves forward. Lear resists this changing of the guard and ultimately suffers destruction along with everything he cares for.

A philosophical conflict arises when Lear confronts Goneril and Regan in Gloucester Castle. Goneril's proposal to halve his retinue and Regan's demand to quarter it deeply wounds him. Although he sees Goneril's option as the lesser of two evils, he cannot bear it when both daughters continue to

decrease the number of his attendants until it reaches zero.

The suggestion put forth is that it is logical for Lear to not have his own forces since the forces of Goneril and Regan can handle his needs. Additionally, it is illogical to have a house with more than one commander. When Lear hears this, he responds with passion, imploring reason to not dictate his needs. It could be easy to condemn the lack of empathy Goneril and Regan display towards their father and his emotions, but the outcome of this dialogue reveals Lear's violent changes in temperament from the start of the play. Even though Lear swore to never rail against Regan due to her tender nature, he eventually explodes and rails against both Goneril and Regan.

Although Lear is passionate and emotional, his behavior often results in irrationality and childishness. In contrast, his daughters use logic and rationality to manipulate and further their own interests, making them cold and treacherous. This difference in outlook, rather than age, caused the separation between Lear and his daughters. Lear's own downfall is rooted in his excessive behavior, which is exemplified by his love of flattery during the throne room scene. This scene is purely indulgent, as Lear's intentions regarding the division of the kingdom are well-known among his court. The opening scene with Gloucester and Kent discussing the division of the kingdom confirms this.

Lear constructs this scenario to create a platform for his daughters to express their affection towards him. Goneril and Regan fulfill Lear's expectations by communicating their love for him, which lessens the impact of his abdication and reinforces his status as a

beloved father. However, Cordelia chooses not to express her feelings, causing hurt and heartbreak for Lear. As his favorite daughter, he anticipated her speech to be the most adoring, but she disappoints him with her silence. Though some may argue that Lear was unfair to reject Cordelia's lack of flattery, an outside observer would note that his weakness towards flattery is evident. Lear is a man in decline who acknowledges his loss of power, and he discovers that his most beloved daughter refuses to indulge him in his time of need.

According to the text, Lear's downfall can be attributed to his pride, which leads him to reject Kent when he opposes the King. Meanwhile, Goneril and Regan's efforts to appease him are insincere, while Cordelia and Kent's honesty is too brutal for Lear to handle. Even though they are morally pure, they offer no sympathy for Lear's decline. Lear has never faced refusal of emotional obedience before, as his long life of absolute power has made him blind to human limitations and unable to accept responsibility for his actions. Thus, the roots of Lear's disintegration run deep, and he carries some responsibility for his own downfall.

In the face of his daughter's insurrection, Lear must combine love and justice. His failure to instill moral virtues in his children may have contributed to this situation. The cultivation of these virtues requires their prevalence within the parent, making this facet of the play relatable to many families. Lear's seeming indifference may be the cause of Goneril and Regan's antipathy towards him. Although Lear is extending an olive branch of love to his children, they may be too

old to appreciate his gesture.

The question must be raised regarding whether Goneril and Regan truly owe Lear the gratitude that he believes should be his. By asking the question, "which of you doth love me most," the king reveals to readers his past relationship with his children. Presumably, the three daughters have lived their lives in Lear's shadow, receiving little attention. So, how much time should they be expected to give to their father? In Lear's case, he wishes to abandon all responsibilities, leaving his daughters to shoulder this new duty completely without compunction. This scenario raises questions about how much we owe our parents and whether we should comply regardless of how they treated us, or if the scales should balance. In Act 3 scene 4, Lear's stance on this is made clear as he says, "Judicious punishment! 'twas this flesh begot those pelican daughters," and "Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand for lifting food to't?" The King feels betrayed but does he have a right to? Should this behavior have been expected given Lear's apparent previous actions? Lear displays a lack of perspicacity first by rashly dividing his kingdom, then by misjudging the truer intents of his daughters, and once more when he fails to see that Goneril and Regan are both treacherous and loveless towards him.Lear's anger is so intense that it takes over his ability to make sound judgments. Similar to Othello, his emotions govern him, causing him to abandon any logical approach to the difficulties he encounters. Lear's mind is clouded by his fervor and he fails to apply a detached and objective perspective.

The ridiculous throne

room scene where Lear asks his children to quantify their love for him illustrates his eagerness to be flattered. He shows inadequacies as a father by lacking knowledge of his daughters' true characters, and as a King through abruptly dividing his land. Lear's plight has parallels with Gloucester's, as both are old and declining in appearance and character. They also both suffer from placing misplaced trust in the wrong people, with their souls twisted and distressed by their favored children. Additionally, Gloucester's problems stem from his excesses.

In the opening scene of the play, Gloucester openly discusses Edmund's mother with Kent, revealing that his pursuit of pleasure led to Edmund's birth. Gloucester confirms his indulgence in this affair, stating that he loves his illegitimate son as much as Edgar. However, it is hardly tactful for him to comment on how "there was good sport at his making" within earshot of his son. This is the root of Edmund's jealousy towards his brother, who is considered greater than him by law due to being born in wedlock. Edmund's superstitious nature is another weakness that contributes to his downfall, a trait that he exploits by saying "here stood he in the dark."

Edmund's treachery towards his father, Gloucester, and his brother, Edgar, is similar to Lear's betrayal by his daughters. The two brothers, who have similar abilities and bloodlines but differ in legitimacy and integrity, reflect Lear's own struggles with his children. When Lear comments that Gloucester's illegitimate son is more truthful than his own daughters, he mistakenly equates legitimacy with honesty. Gloucester's inability to see the truth of his sons leads to his downfall, as exemplified by

the ironic metaphor of Cornwall plucking out Gloucester's eyes due to Edmund's deceit.

Edgar's failure to confront Gloucester regarding Edmund's lies indicates his acceptance of his father's decision and punishment, possibly due to his own belief in deserving it. This is a familiar scenario for modern families, where children strive to meet their parents' expectations. Similarly, Lear's daughters may not feel obligated to support their father if they have not received his attention or support. The generational conflicts seen in King Lear highlight the timeless nature of family conflicts, but also the potential for reconciliation such as that seen between Lear and Cordelia.