FREE ESSAY ON KING LEAR

KING LEAR

King Lear, in Shakespeare's tragic play, goes through drastic changes as a man, both
father and king. He is forced to face the problems he causes when he turns over the
kingdom to his two evil daughters Regan and Goneril. Lear's tragic flaw is his inability
to see the true nature of people because of his pride and anger. This causes him to
override his judgement. This is best shown when he disowns his most truthful and loyal
daughter Cordelia. He much prefers his elder daughters Regan and Goneril because he liked
their shameless flattering of him. He shows that he does not truly know his daughters,
because he has never taken the time to. Lear will eventually lose his sanity, due to
being mistreated by the two daughters to which he entrusted his entire kingdom.
The King's loyal servant Kent, confronts the king about his decision to divide the
kingdom between Regan and Goneril, and the banishing of Cordelia from the kingdom. Kent
tries to make Lear see the error of his ways. Lear however is too stubborn and he in turn
banishes Kent from the kingdom for questioning his authority. This shows Lear to be an
egomaniacal power-hungry fool.
The King moves in with Goneril and she tries to take away some of Lear's servants which
infuriates him. He curses Goneril, and goes running to Regan. Lear is so blind to the
fact that Regan and Goneril are conspiring against him, that he assumes that Regan will
welcome him with open arms. When Lear finally does figure out that Regan shares the same
feelings as Goneril, he is hesitant to confront her because he has nowhere left to go.
Lear is rendered powerless when his daughters both attempt to reduce his servants to
zero. Lear begins to go insane at this point.
Lear begins to change after he goes mad. He starts to realize his par mistakes. Lear
realizes he cannot control what is going on around him. He begins to acknowledge his
wrongdoings. He contemplates things he has never had to think about before, such as
shelter from the storm. 
The character Poor Tom probably has the greatest impact on Lear. Lear begins to become
concerned with the homeless. Up until this point Lear has been as self-centered as a
small child. He now begins to show compassion and a deeper understanding of those around
him.
When Lear finally meets up with Cordelia toward the end of the play, he begins to regain
his sanity. He tries to bond with her, but it is too late. Cordelia will be hanged and
die. Lear not fully realizes where he has gone wrong in his life. He is left heart-broken
to die.
In closing, I think that in Shakespeare's King Lear, Lear underwent major changes. He
goes from being self-centered, egotistical, and power-hungry to being compassionate,
generous, and self-aware. I do feel however that these changes came a little bit too late
because by the time Lear had fully evolved he died.