2001 Paper 2 Section 1

On first impression King Lear is an arrogant, callous, foolish old man whom the audience severely dislike. As the play draws to a close, however, Shakespeare has managed to completely reverse our opinion of him. We sympathise with the poor man who is 'more sinned against than sinning' and we feel sadness and great pity at his demise. The reason for this great sea change of feeling is the important changes that take place in Lear's character throughout the play. In order to fully understand these changes we must look at our initial impression of Lear. In Act one, Scene one, we meet a man who wishes to abdicate his kingdom so that he can 'unburthened crawl towards death'. He is happy to give up his Kingship and sets up a 'love auction' to indulge his vanity. He invites lies and hypocrisy when he asks the question 'which of you shall we say doth love us most?' It is quite clear that Lear has no idea of the true meaning of love. His judgement is seriously flawed, he believes the 'glib and oily art' of his evil daughters and banishes the two people most loyal to him. He wishes to retain the 'name and all th' additions of a King' but rejects any of his responsibility. He is arrogant, vain and stubborn. These patent flaws ultimately result in Lear enduring much suffering. However, it is through his suffering that Lear gains self-knowledge and becomes a better person. He learns these lessons through the suffering inflicted on him by other people, especially Goneril and Regan. Their callous treatment of him forces him to admit his inability to distinguish real love from false. He realises that he rejected Cordelia for a pair of 'serpents'. Lear, who has never admitted a weakness in himself, says of his treatment of Cordelia, 'I did her wrong.' The storm scene is extremely important in Lear's development. Lear does not blame Nature for the suffering inflicted on him by the elements but rather is willing to learn from Nature that all men are equal, that all are in need of protection, whether they are 'starving wretches' or royalty. He begins to look beyond himself and his troubles. He reflects on those that are homeless and admits 'O,' I have ta'en / too little care of this'.' He appeals to the fool to take shelter 'In boy, go first.' This is the first unselfish act Lear has performed throughout the play and it signposts a monumental change in his character. It is insanity, though, that heralds the biggest changes in Lear. It is highly ironic that Lear sane is an arrogant fool but Lear mad becomes a profound commentator on life itself. Poor Tom plunges Lear into insanity but with this insanity, he acquires wisdom. The stripping of clothes is highly symbolic here; the old Lear is leaving while the new improved Lear emerges. In the height of Lear's madness, Edgar comments that his speeches are full of 'reason and impertancy mix'd'. He begins to see himself and the world truly, 'a man may see how this world goes without eyes … handy-dandy which is the justice, which is the thief?' Sharing misery with the fool, Kent, Gloucester and 'Poor Tom' makes him realise that all men face the same possibility of suffering: 'When we are born, we cry that we are come/to this great stage of fools.' The once proud and self-absorbed King begins to think of others and realise he is 'not ague-proof'. In act four, scene seven, we see a new Lear. He admits his faults, begs forgiveness and has assumed a new humility and gentleness of spirit. He tells Cordelia, 'I am a very foolish fond old man' — how different is this to the Lear in act one who tells Kent, 'Come not between the dragon and his wrath.' He kneels before his daughter and offers to take poison. At the end of the play Lear is happy to create a world for himself and Cordelia in prison, 'Come let's away to prison / we two alone will sing like birds I the cage.' He no longer cares about authority or status but merely wishes to 'pray and sing, and tell old tales and laugh / At gilded butterflies.' As Lear and his daughter are taken away, we see him assuming a proper paternal role; he is comforting his daughter, 'Wipe thine eyes.' The huge changes in Lear make us see him as the tragic hero and we are genuinely upset when he dies of heartbreak. We have grown with the King and these important changes allow him to become a true hero. The witnessing of these developments makes King Lear such compelling and entertaining material.