The Development Of Gloucester Essay Example

the story Glocester strives to discover the accuracy of the letter and plot. After concluding that all this time he had been wrong he is blinded by an enemy of his. His lindness symbolically shows the final phase of Gloucesters evolution for it strengthens the fact that he is now logical and perceptive. Hence Shakespeare traces the development of Gloucester from being irrational to sensible. Shakespeare also traces the psychological progression of the Duke of Albany. As the husband of Goneril, one of Lears daughters, his wifes strong ambitious nature overwhelms him so much that he follows his wife full heatedly.

As the story begins Albany is participating in his wifes plan to rule Britain. When Albany says to Goneril, I fear your disposition(3. 4) one can immediately see how Albanys unassertive nature is ngulfed by Gonerils aggressive character. As the story progresses so does Albany. When he says to Edgar, one of the people standing in the way of his wifes plans, Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I did hate thee or thy father,(4. 3) his subservient nature is released for this quote shows how since he apologizes to his wifes enemy he does not tolerate his wifes authority over him.

He now becomes more self-determined. He acts on his own will instead of taking orders from his spouse. Clearly Albany transforms from a subordinate character to a self-determined one. Probably the character that evolves the most dramatically is King Lear, the king f Britain, for he develops from being oblivious to becoming observant. Because he allows his ego and external things to determine his decisions Lear is characterized as oblivious for it shows

how he allows those factors to prohibit him from making decisions based on the facts.

In a beginning scene Lear holds a contest between his three daughters to determine which one of them would be his successor. The way Lear would determine who would take over was to see which one of the girls most strongly expressed their love for him a true sign of an egotistical person. Two of the daughters sarcastically but elievably told their father how much they loved him in order to receive his approval. The youngest, however, told him that his contest was immoral and that she would not act for him as her sisters did.

It is necessary to note that prior to this scene that daughter, Cordelia, was most loved by Lear and most suitable for the position. Once she does not play up to him like her sisters, she is disowned by Lear. He then crowns the two other sisters as co-rulers of Britain out of spite to Cordelia. Clearly his deflated ego drives Lear to act foolishly and therefore he is oblivious to the prior loyalty of Cordelia. Once he makes his final decision he immediately realizes that he has made a big mistake.

In his discussion to Albany, Lear, self-pitied, says Detested kit! hou liest… How ugly didst thou show in Cordelia… Oh Lear, Lear Lear …let thy folly in(1. 5) proving that Lear immediately recognizes his mistake for he is saying that the two daughters were only taunting their father when they participated in his contest and only in it to take over the kingdom. Lears awareness of his error goes so far as him sincerely trying

to rectify it. Clearly Shakespeare shows the evolution of Lears character from being unaware and blivious to his situation to his becoming perceptive and cognizant to his predicament.

In conclusion Shakespeare develops the characters of Gloucester, Albany and Lear: from irrational to sensible, subservient to self-determined and from oblivious to observant respectively. One of the reasons King Lear has been considered one of the greatest literary pieces is because Shakespeare superbly shows the development of these characters. It is the progression of his characters that makes the tragedy so interesting and enjoyable. The concept that people go through changes thoughout their life is an underlying theme throughout the play.