King Lear's Transformation

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how "King Lear" by William Shakespeare, is a tragic tale of filial conflict, but more importantly, it is a tale of personal transformation. It looks at how several of the characters experience a transformative phase, whereby some trial or ordeal, their nature is profoundly changed. In particular, the paper discusses how, perhaps the most discernible of these characters is that of King Lear himself, whose nature is initially constituted by foolishness, followed by a comprehension and realization of his folly, and how finally Lear descends into the strongholds of madness, only to eventually become wiser and less frivolous than in the earlier parts of the play.

From the Paper:

"When examining Lear's change in demeanor throughout the play, the most obvious display of alteration is found in his relationship with his daughters, and his responsiveness to them. The play begins with Lear preparing to divide the kingdom among his three daughters, as he is planning for his retirement. In his first manifestation of senselessness, Lear has his daughters compete for their inheritance, and he declares that whomever can proclaim their love for him in the grandest possible fashion will receive the grandest piece of his kingdom. While Goneril, the eldest daughter, and Regan, both declare their love for Lear to be boundless and "dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty," Cordelia, the youngest of Lear's daughters, finds that she is unable to show her love with mere words. "

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