King Lear Character Analysis Essay

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Within the Play “King Lear” by William Shakespeare, King Lear is presented as a complex character who is emotionally driven, turns a blind eye to reality, and lacks the mental strength to combat certain conflicts, which leads him to make mistakes throughout the play.

In the beginning of the novel Lear divides his kingdom between his two eldest daughters. He presents his daughters with the question of how much they love him individually. Both of the oldest daughters pledge there love to their father unconditionally. The youngest daughter Cordelia however who truly loves him responds with a statement that he is not quite fond of. Cordelia states to Lear "I love your majesty according to my bond, no more nor less." (Act I.I.94-5). In comparison …show more content…

He reacts too hastily to Cordelia 's response which leads him to leave the kingdom in the hands of the eldest daughters who do not care for him at all. Lear makes the mistake of believing that his two eldest daughters were being honest when telling him how much they loved him. Lear 's character tends to base everything on what he feels sounds and looks the best. He loves to be flattered and praised, and in the end it hurts him, because he as not fully realized what he has given up when dividing his …show more content…

In this case King Lear has physical eyesight, but is blind to all that is around him. He is taken with what he wants to hear and makes that his reality. Since he is emotionally driven as we have seen in the pervious paragraphs this not only makes him weak, but plays a heavy part in his downfall. Lear is not aware that both Goneril and Regan have motives to abandon there father. In Act I scene I Regan states to Goneril " 'Tis the infirmity of his age; yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself." (I.I.295). Both sister are plotting to undermine their father given his old age. King Lear believes that his daughters love him

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