02 February 2017

08:38

 

Disintegration, Chaos, Nothingness

 

The most important and prevalent theme of the play ''King Lear'' is the theme of Disintegration, Chaos and Nothingness.  In the play Lear's kingdom is ripped apart by his foolishness and ego.  Directly beneath the power structures lies a chaotic place full of cruelty where all the bonds of society - family, nationality, promises and traditions - quickly begin to dissolve.  We see this immediately from I,I when Lear, in front of the ruling classes gladly splits the kingdom up. The play presents a very bleak and hopeless view of the future of its world, society and the fates of the characters. Though every character at one point or another succumbs to or is defeated by the imminent disintegration and chaos that a medieval British society would produce, it is these three characters that best portray this theme: Edmund,

Goneril and Lear.

Though Goneril and Edmund both contribute to the chaos and destruction to come, by their lust for power and malevolence. Goneril is guilty of pursuing power no matter how immoral her methods and ignores the supposed connection between a father and daughter.   Lear contributes to this in a different way.  Lear has created the conditions whereby chaos can spread by keeping the title but distributing the power.  Now there are multiple people who can, if they're ruthless enough become the ruler.  Lear's disrespect for Cordelia gave a terrible example to the other sons and daughters waiting for power.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King Lear - Act one, scene one

 

In this scene Lear's authority as king, as the head of a political order, enables him to make the decision that will produce grave disorder. By using the word "crawl" to describe his progress toward death, Lear describes the ageing human, without his former authority, as an animal.

The ceremony Lear has devised to make himself feel good also reinforces the plays theme of fathers children and siblings because he shows his "private" authority over his daughters as a father.

Refusing to go along with Lear's political theatre, Cordelia stresses the importance of her inward bond. Her answer, "nothing," will echo throughout the play. Here it anticipates the way in which the dismembering of the kingdom will lead to ruin, chaos, and annihilation.

Cordelia unlike her sisters will not heave her heart into her mouth on how much she loves him.  She clearly states that her love is according to her "bond no more nor less".

 

 

 

 

 

King Lear – Act 2 Scene 4

 

This is a very important scene when relating to the theme fathers, children and siblings. In this scene, Lear's fool yet again, points out the mistake Lear had made when dividing his land and authority between his two daughters Regan and Goneril. During this scene Lear notices that he is missing soldiers and confronts his daughters to ask them why he is missing soldiers. His daughters explains to him that they are only taking away a few of his soldiers, they know he is vulnerable because of his old age and foolishness. Lear and his daughters discuss between themselves about who is going to care for Lear and give him a home to live in. At the end of the discussion Lear had enough and felt abandoned so he left with Gloucester, Kent and his fool into the storm.

 

 

 

 

 

King Lear – Act 4 Scene 1

In Act 4 Scene 1 we see that Gloucester has had his eyes pulled out and is now blind physically and also blind to what is going on in his surroundings.

Edgar is disguised as a mad man and as Gloucester cannot see, he is unaware that his is in the company of his beloved son Edgar.

Gloucester asks Edgar to bring him to a cliff so he can commit suicide as he does not see the point in carrying on in his condition and in the pain he was in. "There is a cliff, whose high and bending head looks fearfully in the confined deep. Bring me but to the very brim of it, And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear with something rich about me. From that place I shall no leading need"

Edgar, disguised as 'Mad Tom' agrees to lead Gloucester to the edge of the cliff so he can "repair the misery".

 

 

 

 

 

 

"In the play, King Lear, the stories of Lear and Gloucester mirror one another in interesting ways."

Write a response to this view of the play, supporting your answer by reference to the text.