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Reason in Madness: A Critical Analysis of King Lear's Paradox, Summaries of Classical Literature

A SHORT SUMMARY OF THE PLAY KING LEAR BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Typology: Summaries

2023/2024

Uploaded on 12/08/2023

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Reason in madness, madness in reason; this double paradox is used throughout
Shakespeare’s play, King Lear, and demonstrates the downfall of both the King and
a family of greatness. Lear’s family and kingdom demonstrate a parallel as they are
torn apart and conflicts arise immediately.
When a person unfit to lead is given power, chaos will ensue, and this is precisely
what happens in the play. To reiterate, the paradox explains how the sane
characters act with insanity, and the characters that have gone mad, show more
insight and act normal-minded. King Lear is a perfect example of a character that
reveals this double paradox to be true.
Before he goes mad, he banishes both Kent and Cordelia; however, during his lapse
insanity, he sees the error of his ways and grows as a King and as a father.
In the beginning, Lear displays perhaps one of his most fatal errors in the entire play.
When Cordelia refuses to lie as her sisters did of her affection for him, he refuses to
have her in his kingdom. A quote from Act I shows Cordelia being honest to her
father.
Good my lord,
You have begot me, bred me, loved me…
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all.” (Act I, scene I )
Cordelia clearly explains that she will always be there for his father and that she
loves him as any true daughter should. Lear is so blind to Regan’s and Goneril’s
false love, that Cordelia’s affection seems to pale in comparison. He then divides his
land in two and gives each half to one of his unfaithful daughters. It is already clear
here, that he displays unclear and rash decision-making before he goes mad.
Any man fit to be King knows that a strong empire cannot be divided in two so easily
and keep its glory. Kent has witnessed Lear’s decision, and as his loyal friend tries to
help him understand his mistake before it is too late. Another quote from Act I has
Kent trying to reason with the King.
“Do, kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
Upon thy foul disease. Revoke thy gift,
Or whilst I can vent clamor from my throat,
I’ll tell thy dost evil.”(Act I, scene I)
Kent clearly asks him to take back his gift to both Albany and Cornwall, as he knows
it will be the demise of his kingdom. Lear will have none of this and quickly banishes
his most loyal friend, only reinforcing the idea that he is acting like a madman, while
he still has his sanity.
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Reason in madness, madness in reason; this double paradox is used throughout Shakespeare’s play, King Lear, and demonstrates the downfall of both the King and a family of greatness. Lear’s family and kingdom demonstrate a parallel as they are torn apart and conflicts arise immediately. When a person unfit to lead is given power, chaos will ensue, and this is precisely what happens in the play. To reiterate, the paradox explains how the sane characters act with insanity, and the characters that have gone mad, show more insight and act normal-minded. King Lear is a perfect example of a character that reveals this double paradox to be true. Before he goes mad, he banishes both Kent and Cordelia; however, during his lapse insanity, he sees the error of his ways and grows as a King and as a father. In the beginning, Lear displays perhaps one of his most fatal errors in the entire play. When Cordelia refuses to lie as her sisters did of her affection for him, he refuses to have her in his kingdom. A quote from Act I shows Cordelia being honest to her father. “ Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, loved me… Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all.” (Act I, scene I ) Cordelia clearly explains that she will always be there for his father and that she loves him as any true daughter should. Lear is so blind to Regan’s and Goneril’s false love, that Cordelia’s affection seems to pale in comparison. He then divides his land in two and gives each half to one of his unfaithful daughters. It is already clear here, that he displays unclear and rash decision-making before he goes mad. Any man fit to be King knows that a strong empire cannot be divided in two so easily and keep its glory. Kent has witnessed Lear’s decision, and as his loyal friend tries to help him understand his mistake before it is too late. Another quote from Act I has Kent trying to reason with the King. “Do, kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Upon thy foul disease. Revoke thy gift, Or whilst I can vent clamor from my throat, I’ll tell thy dost evil.”(Act I, scene I) Kent clearly asks him to take back his gift to both Albany and Cornwall, as he knows it will be the demise of his kingdom. Lear will have none of this and quickly banishes his most loyal friend, only reinforcing the idea that he is acting like a madman, while he still has his sanity.

Not only does Lear prove that he shows madness in reason, but throughout the play, he demonstrates some reason after he has gone mad. After Regan and Goneril treat him with disrespect and deviate from their promises of eternal love, he sees the error in giving them so much power and leaving himself without any. When Lear made this mistake, he left himself completely reliant on his two daughters that could not be trusted. This mistake coincides with the fact that he banished his one truthful and loving daughter, Cordelia. He is left completely helpless, and his daughters exile him from their homes, the same castles Lear previously gave them. This quote has Lear reacting to the fact that he has been thrown into a dreadful storm by his daughters. Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand For lifting food to‘t? But I will punish home. No, I will weep no more. In such a night To shut me out! Pour on, I will endure. (Act III, scene iv) It’s clear that he understands the mistake he made, and that his daughters feed him lies until they get what they need. In between his fits of insanity, Lear speaks of Goneril’s and Regan’s betrayals. It is apparent that in some ways he can see more truth than when he had his sanity, an obvious sign that King Lear shows much reason in madness. A different perspective of Lear’s obvious reason for madness is when he is in the forest enduring the storm, with the help of Kent and the Fool. When they find the hut to use as shelter, Lear encounters a handful of homeless people in the same situation he finds himself in. This quote shows Lear’s feeling towards the homeless of his kingdom. “Poor naked wretches, whereso’er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm… That thou mayst shake the superflux to them And show the heavens more just. (Act III, scene iv lines 28-36) Lear can see that the impoverished citizens of his kingdom stand no chance of survival. He realises that he had the resources to help these people when he was in power. Lear understands that these people cannot afford food, shelter, or clothes, while he and his family live in luxury. A fact that he chose to ignore throughout his reign of power, and most importantly, while he was capable of making sane decisions. Once Lear has lost his mind, he comprehends the issue with much more wisdom and knowledge than before. This isn’t the only instance where Lear demonstrates improved wisdom throughout his spell of madness, here is a quote of Lear showing more insight and wisdom.