foolear A Fool for a King in William Shakespeare's King Lear

A Fool for a King in King Lear

In Shakespeare's play King Lear, the main character, King Lear, is presented as a respected and powerful king. As the story progresses the king loses his power because of his own stupidity and blindness. The tragedy of this play is shown chiefly through the actions of Lear’s daughters, which lead to Lear’s bout with insanity, and through the words of the Fool.

At the beginning of the play, King Lear appears as a powerful and well-loved ruler. He explains his intention to abdicate and divide his kingdom among his three daughters, giving the largest segment to the daughter who convinces him that she loves him most (Boyce 343). Goneril is the first to lie,

Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter; / Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty;

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; / No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor;

As much as child e’er loved, or father found; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable.

Beyond all manner of so much I love you. (I.i.56-63)

Regan is the next to exaggerate her love,

I am made / Of that same metal as my sister

And prize me at her worth. In my true heart / I find she names my very deed of love,

Only she comes too short, that I profess / Myself an enemy to all other joys

Which the most precious square of sense possesses, / And find I am alone felicitate

In your dear Highness’ love. (I.i.72-80)

Finally, Cordelia speaks only the truth when she says, “ Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave / My heart into my mouth. I l...

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...cted and powerful king to that of a regular man who, at times, seems to have no family. This takes him to the brink of despair and, at least, temporary insanity until he is rescued by his friend whom he had banished and his daughter whom he had disinherited. Not only is it a tragedy that Lear and Cordelia die at the end of the play, but also that so much pain and suffering was endured before a Fool enabled Lear to see that he had tragically misjudged the most important people in his life. The people he had rejected were the ones who truly loved him and tried to protect him; the people he treated so well were the ones from whom he needed to be protected. This error in judgment cost him everything.

Works Cited

Boyce, Charles. Shakespeare A to Z. New York: Roundtable Press, 1990.

Shakespeare, William. King Lear. New York: Washington Square Press, 1957.