King Lear Aging

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Arguably Herrick’s most famous poem, “To the Virgins to Make Much of Time”, has as similar take, “The age is best which is the first/When youth and blood are warmer;/But being spent, the worse, and worst/Times still succeed the former” (Hesperides. 208. 9-12) here the part of life more biologically invigorated is praised, yet there is no recognition of value which can come with aging. What is also missed is addressing the pain which can occur with a loss of control that occurs with aging, and the jealousy that can occur when a parent- in a later stage of life- witnesses their child enjoying the excitement of beginning life fresh and new. Shakespeare handled the topic of aging much more skillfully in the play King Lear ambiguously posing many questions about old age and loss of control with the character of Lear who is faced with losing his job, his sanity, and his life mainly because he has aged and become senile. With Lear speaking the loss of identity at the hands of aging is expressed beautifully,
Does anyone here know me? This is not Lear/Does Lear walk thus? Speak thus? Where are his eyes?/Either his notion weakens, his discernings/Are lethagied-Ha! ‘Tis not so./Who is it that can tell me who I am? …show more content…

The question of his bachelorhood is answered in the poem “His Answer to a Question” where he claims that he chooses to not marry in order to not be a slave to another person or to lust. (Hesperides. 26) The poetry written to his sister-in-law who lived with him and kept his house for many years after his brother’s death demonstrates feelings of desire but with no sexual relations, “A sister (in the stead/Of wife) about I’ll lead;/Which I will keep embrac’d,/And kiss, but yet be chaste” (“No Spouse But a Sister”. Hesperides. 31.7-10) Such poetry depicts a man who viewed the sex act as sinful or even gross. “Kisses Loathsome” is another

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