Gloucester Character in King Lear Essay

King Lear and Gloucester be similar to an extent of being tragic heroes, be causal agent they two experience the traditional features of a classic calamity. both characters go through the features of hubris, hamartia and culminates with anagnorisis. Shakespeare employs the double plot in King Lear, the only Shakespearean tragedy to employ two similar plots which function in a parallel manner. In doing so, Shakespeare is able-bodied to attest the tragic consequences that result when the natural law is subverted. Despite both being tragic figures, the causes of their downfall are different and thus the culmination of the way both characters are considered to be tragic varies as well.Lear and Gloucester both commit blunders in the opening of the play, calling attention to their own tragic flaw, however the both the cause and impact varies. There is an indication of a power struggle as Renaissance society was decrepit and gerontocratic, meaning men did not consider retirement nor did they pass on their power when they reached old age. Lear deciding to give away his power to his daughters, under the intention of conferring them on younger strengths, while we unburthend grovel towards death, would have challenged the thinking of an Elizabethan audience who acknowledged the social construct of the Great mountain chain of Being, the existence of a natural social of all beings and animals having their own ordained position. Both figures worsen a child who truly loved them- this is their tragic flaw. Lears decision to disclaim all enate care from Cordelia, is perhaps the most impactful decision, because Lear had disacknowledged the one daughter who truly loved him.As a result, Lears subversion of power to shake all cares and business from our age is perhaps more fata as a mistake in comparison to Gloucester. For Gloucester, his mistake is may be his adultery. The way Gloucester describes his son as oft blushed to acknowledge him highlights the concern of ra ising an illegitimate child. Consequently, Edmund seeks go against the laws of primogeniture, allowing only the legitimate child to be empower to land. Gloucester is alsosuggested to have relaxed morals, justifying the birth of Edmund with his mother as a knave came something saucily to the world. Gloucesters fault is less reckless than Lears. Gloucesters fault is arguably justifiable as he was be to by his own son. However it is his reaction, denying thought and logic which warrants consequences.The impact of both characters hamartia being equally destructive. According to Aristotle, he believed horror and pity are the two emotions the audience should olfactory perception while watching a tragedy, and Shak The physical pain Gloucester endures namely, being blinded was thought to be something likewise gruesome to be displayed as a result, the scene had been omitted by some productions. Theatrical critic G.Wilson buck commented on the play being purposeless and unreasonable, Ki ng Lear is the most fearless artistic facing of crowning(prenominal) cruelty. The juxtaposition of Gloucesters cries of give me help O cruel against Gonerils brutal statements how now, you pass over highlights the ruthlessness and barbarity of Gloucesters circumstance. 19th century criticism was notable for suggesting Gloucester is punished harshly for his misjudgement of characters and leave be viewed by most audiences as a character more sinned against than sinning.However, in comparison to Lears suffering, the King may be portrayed more so as a tragic figure. Unlike Gloucester, Lear falls into a state of madness and the audience watch Lears mind dribble progressively during the play. The dismissal of Lears hundred knights by both Goneril and Regan is powerful because the knights can be considered to be a symbol of Lears importance. But being denied something which Lear wants and needs he notably comments, Mans life is cheap as beasts as aspects including clothes and property are symbols of civilisation. As a result Lear is reduced to having nothing to his name, thus being reduced as G.Wilson Knight state an elemental, instinctive life. Near the end of the play, the king is wearing a crown of thorns, characterising his downfall as a figure who was once decorated as King of England to a person who has aligned himself with nature, furthered by Frank Kernode stating, suffering can reduce humanity to a bestial condition In this way, the portraying of Lears madness may be seen as more tragic than of what Gloucester experienced.A further feature of a classic tragedy is both tragic figures achieving anagnorisis, (a critical issue ofrecognition), near the ending of the play. The moment of realization occurs when Regan reveals to Gloucester of Edmund being a treacherous villain Once being blinded, Gloucester comments, I stumbled when I motto, situational irony is deployed, epitomizing his realization of the events surrounding him, at a point where he is no lon ger able to see. Perhaps this alludes to critic Lawrence Rosingers comment of the play is about Gloucester and Lears self-discovery after a outcome of treating the others as a means of self-gratification, suggesting for Gloucester to recognise the true virtues of a human being, the process involves suffering and pain. However, for Lear to gain anagnorisis, I believe he is forced to endure suffering, for example, his daughters which serves to heighten the sympathy felt for Lear.This is exemplified peculiarly when interacting with Gloucester in Act 4, commenting they (Goneril and Regan) flattered me like a dog, the dramatic irony invoking pity because the audience is already aware of this. Once reunited with Cordelia, Lear expresses himself as being bound upon a wheel of fire, his pessimistic view, alluding to a Christian interpretation of hell. Though both characters learn through their experience, it is arguably Lears anagnoriss which allows him to be more tragic than Gloucester. His torment eventually reduces him to beggary, wanting give me that patience, patience I need, the chiasmus emphasising his desperation.