The Hero's Journey In King Lear And The Fisher King

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In most mythologies, the hero of the story must journey along a path that will lead them to becoming the person they are destined for. This hero or archetype is called to take this path because of some conflict that arises in which the hero must overcome; this journey will eventually end in the hero gaining something they did not have before. In Shakespearean tragedy the hero’s character leads to their own downfall. A fatal error in judgement on their part leads to disruption in the existing world and the hero’s fortune. Although, once the hero makes recognition of his mistakes order is restored and the hero receives a just punishment. King Lear and the Fisher King are similar characters who have a desire for power and riches, thus, because …show more content…

The hero’s journey begins with their fall and separation from the familiar world. This then initiates both Kings into physical, mental, and spiritual trials of suffering as they search for enlightenment, which results in their transformation. They make recognition of their mistakes and overcome challenges and return to their ordinary world, spiritually reborn as a hero with self-knowledge, free of inner conflict. It is revealed that through the similar journey of King Lear and the Fisher King from a proud to humble identity, they are provided insight into what will truly satisfy them: compassion and love.

Both King Lear and the Fisher King are separated from a world of power and riches but also from the compassion of loved ones, when they blindly strive for what they think will satisfy them. Motivated by blind pride and vanity, King Lear divides …show more content…

King Lear is free from inner agony and conflict once he reconciles with Cordelia and is forgiven. He is now spiritually a new person who has acquired humility and compassion after accepting responsibility for his actions. He is no longer the proud and blind King he was before but rather sees himself as “a very foolish fond man... [and] mainly ignorant” (4.7.60-65). Though his mistakes have resulted in the death of his most loving daughter and his suffering resulted in his own death, he dies in a state of joy and in good faith. Similarly, the Fisher King is symbolically healed from his spiritual and mental wound of loneliness. He realizes that what he was really longing for is the compassion and love from someone else to heal his loneliness and free him of inner agony. That someone was not the “brightest and bravest” (Fisher King), but a fool that “only knew [he was] thirsty” (Fisher King). Both King Lear and the Fisher King were able to recognize their mistakes and gain enlightenment of what is really important and what will truly satisfy them. It is through this spiritual rebirth that they are free of agony and inner conflict. The Kings are now able to give and receive love and compassion; they have humbled themselves and no longer have the same prideful ego. Now that the hero’s have overcome their

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