Reckless Love in King Lear and 1984

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Do the relationships in ones life define the individual himself or even the fate of that individual or are the relationships a reflection of the individuals characteristics, personality and choices? In the literary masterpieces, King Lear and 1984, the character relationships are the essence of the stories themselves. In each of these pieces, both Winston, the protagonist of 1984, and the major characters in King Lear are put through a series of situations, including isolation and betrayal, in which the relationships with other characters are important to their fate. In almost every instance, the connections between each character when based on love, trust and sex lead to the downfall of one of the individuals or both. Relationships that are based upon love, trust and sex, as shown in King Lear and 1984, are used to destroy rather then improve on a characters state of existence. Love is a common theme in literature, and even though 1984’s main themes include the dangers of totalitarianism and psychological manipulation, love is still a prominent theme in the novel. The love that is displayed in 1984 between the characters Winston and Julia does not lead to an ending similar to that of a fairy tale, like many other classics do. Their love begins and ends in destruction, betrayal and hate. Winston and Julia are brought together by their combined hate for the Party, which is the totalitarian government controlling their society. However, their dislike must be kept secret or they will be taken by the Party’s Thought Police to the Ministry of Love, where they assume that their lives would be ended. Although Winston and Julia share this immense hatred for the Party itself, that seems to be the only common interest between them both. J... ... middle of paper ... ...rayed by Winston’s undoubted trust in O’Brien and the betrayed trust between Lear and his daughters. The relationship between Winston and his wife, Katharine, as well as the relationships between Edmund and the two sisters, Goneril and Regan, prove that relationships that are based on sex lead to the destruction of the individuals involved. Most relationships represented in these literary works are evidence that any relationship based on a sole condition or feeling and not a multitude of them ends in tragedy and despair. So, in conclusion, one can interpret from these pieces of literature, that it is how the individual develops and expands their relationships that makes the relationship and the individual stronger. Works Cited Orwell, George. 1984. Toronto: Penguin Books Ltd., 1977. Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Toronto: The Folger Shakespeare Library, 1993.

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