The Importance Of Dramatic Tragedy In Shakespeare's King Lear

In all genres there are stereotypical elements. This academic essay will outline the importance and effect of the elements of dramatic tragedy within the given passage from King Lear, and how this is significant and develops an understanding in the audience towards the play as a whole. The passage given comes from Act 1; Scene 1 of ‘King Lear’. This initial scene is what would be called the ‘initiation of tragedy’ in this context as it supplies the tragic hero; in this case Lear himself with the road to his downfall. Lear is proclaimed as the ‘tragic hero’ as he adheres to the conventions of one. To be more precise, Lear contains within himself a fatal flaw and in this case it is his excessive pride as a King. It is this position; monarchy

This play came from the 17th century and revolved around a monarch, opposed to more common folk from other tragic tales, giving us a grander insight to the world of tragedy. At this time, the audience may have found ‘King Lear’ to be more pleasurable for it is the same time period, and may have interpreted it different as the way the King is in the play may have been more similar to the way a monarch acted in the 17th century, running the country a different way than it is today. Therefore, the script is more relatable in terms of the authority proposed, and so Lear’s actions may be deemed more normal, or were to be expected. In society today, a monarch’s role is much more different therefore the tragedy in the dramatic setting is interpreted a bit different from audiences in the 1600s. Also in the passage are workers for all the main characters. The servants of Lear and others are present in all of these key points. No matter what, people are always watching Lear, Gloucester, Gonoril, Regan and other main people, although they never speak up. They witness the downfall and the evil and the misfortune. These people are always present for these moments. Dramatic setting has significance to the play as a whole as the characters are all of higher status and therefore shows the effects of disorder within in monarchy and how this harms the world of ‘King Lear’. It is set in a long forgotten Albion, showing that Shakespeare may have intended for ‘King Lear’ to be an example of an unrealistic King; not one like the monarch at that time. The lower status characters always being present is also notable. As mentioned, there are always rumours being talked of in some scenes, and as the servants are always present in key scenes, they may be the ones spreading gossip among the land. This may serve as a factor that increases