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

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

of their personality and desires they are forced to take the path of the hero.

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

his kingdom based on the flattery of his daughters, and as a result the daughter that loves him the most is disowned for not being able to express her love to her father through the use of words. When Lear says, “The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft” (1.1.145), he exemplifies his arrogance and poor judgement as he does not realize the mistake he is making by determining true love using flattery. Likewise, he banishes his most loyal servant, Kent, for trying to help him “see better...” (1.1.160). Only in time will Lear realize what “...what plighted cunning hides” (1.1.282), and what mistake he has made. Similarly the Fisher King, as a boy, isolates himself from the world and sleeps alone in the forest to prove he is worthy of being a King. Though he proves himself worthy it is because of his “blindness for greater visions of power and glory” (Fisher King), that he eventually loses faith in men and himself. He is unable to love or be loved and is sick with experience. Both King Lear and the Fisher King are separated from the familiar world through blindly seeking for what they think will satisfy them, but instead are the ones responsible for their own fall, setting the Wheel of Fortune in motion. Although, it is necessary for the Kings to be separated from the familiar world, because it is through their separation from power, riches, and loved ones, they will realize that what they hunger for will not satisfy them.

Secondly, each King is initiated into trials of physical, mental, and spiritual suffering because of their foolish mistakes and their search for power and riches. Lear blindly gives away too much power to his daughters and must now physically suffer from the absence of authority – with only his knights too show for. Yet that too will be taken away from his greedy daughters. He is reminded by the Fool of his mistakes but King Lear is still too proud to admit them and as a result of his actions, “[He] shall go mad!” (2.4.286). Similarly, the Fisher King, as a boy, is visited by a sacred vision saying “he shall be the keeper of the Holy Grail so it may heal the hearts of men” (Fisher King), but being blinded by greater visions he reaches for the grail and burns his hand. The King eventually loses faith in men and himself, and is unable to love or be loved, but most of all he spiritually suffers from loneliness. The Fisher King and Lear must suffer physically, mentally, and spiritually for their blind behaviours in order for them to acquire enlightenment towards self-knowledge or rebirth. Suffering is necessary for the Kings to experience when going through a transformation because through suffering they are able to learn the cause of their suffering and what mistakes were made. It teaches them what they need to do to change their current situation and to not go down that path again.

Thirdly, both King Lear and the Fisher King overcome their challenges through experience and insight from internal suffering and the external influence of others, which then allows them to transform into the person they are destined to be. King Lear enters a storm in a state of madness with the belief that the cause for his madness is the ingratitude of his daughters. Lear starts showing some compassion and empathy, especially towards the fool when he calls him “my boy” (2.4.check line). Later, he encounters Edgar, as a beggar, who only heightens his madness bringing him recognition of his own folly. Lear shows empathy towards the beggars and realizes he has “ta’en/ Too little care of [them]”
(3.4.32-33). Lear understands that humans are “no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal” (3.4.105) and that power and riches are just a sophisticated image. He begins to realize what he has done to Cordelia and recognizes that he is not an invincible King, but rather an ordinary human being. In the same manner, the Fisher King encounters a Fool who helps him make recognition of his mistakes and what he really needs. The Fool doesn’t see a King like everybody else, but rather “a man alone and in pain” (Fisher King). Without hesitation, the Fool gives the King a glass of water when he is thirsty. Though, it appears, that his physical wound is being healed, the real wound that is healed is his spiritual and mental wounds, from being alone. The King finally finds the Holy Grail he is looking for, and it was not through gaining power but through understanding what it means to be compassionate, humble, and loved. The Fisher King and Lear finally gain insight and realize their mistakes, but had to suffer for it in order to make recognition and change their identity. Thorough overcoming challenges they realize what is truly important – compassion, humility, and love. The transformation of these two Kings has helped them evolve into the true hero’s they are destined to be. They are now capable of loving those that love them and humble themselves with those below them in the hierarchy.

Lastly, both King Lear and the Fisher King are spiritually reborn with self-knowledge and freedom of inner conflict through recognition, compassion and the love of others.

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

challenges and made recognition of their mistakes they must return to the ones that loved and showed compassion to them, and reconcile with them. Moral order is restored and the Wheel of Fortune is back to normal.

To conclude, it is revealed that, through the similar journeys of King Lear and the Fisher King from a proud to humble identity, we are provided insight into what will truly satisfy us: compassion and love. Both King Lear and the Fisher King demonstrate that we should never let the pleasures of power and riches interfere with our ability to be humble and compassionate, and to recognize genuine love. If we let these materialistic obsessions change who we are then we risk the consequences of loneliness, emptiness, and mental suffering. We can never be satisfied with power and riches because they provide no contentment, only the need for wanting more. Love and compassion, however, is an eternal gratification. It is what keeps people together and happy, whether you are a King or fool(beggar).