Vanity, Arrogance & Selfishness

Vanity, Arrogance & Selfishness

1. Many characters suffer & cause suffering because they lack the sense of loyalty demonstrated by C, K and others.

   • L possesses an overdeveloped sense of pride leaving him vulnerable to manipulation, clouds his judgement & eventually leads to his downfall.
   • selfish emotions of jealousy and greed motivate Edm, G & R's actions = mutual and particularly fitting destruction - but only after they have ruined the lives of nearly everyone around them. - they use flattery and deceit to mask their true intentions and are able to quickly gain the wealth and power that they seek.
     • G & R are selfish and greedy by nature and will never be satisfied with what they have. Now that they have wealth and power, they are competing for Edm, even though G is married and R recently widowed.
       • G & R's inherent greed and jealousy have turned them against each other.

2. L's first mistake in orchestrating this contest of love amongst his daughters.

   • C understands her sisters have been acting out of greed & proclaims her own innocence.
   • "How, how Cordelia mend your speech a little lest you may mar your fortunes" - L (I, I)
     • idea of holding a contest in which your 3 daughters are to articulate their love is certainly arrogant & vain - a thoroughly ego-driven exercise. - L is exercising his ability to control the affairs of his family - he is showing his power to them, a vain and arrogant activity.

3. Edm freely confesses his jealousy and his greed and makes no apologies for who he is. He believes he should take what he wants by his own wits, regardless of the consequences to others. Edm is fashioned in the tradition of Shakesperean villains, representing the negative side of self-interest and materialism.

   • Like G & R - Edm feels its only right for him to profit from his father's loss. He is happy to manipulate circumstances to his gain, showing a complete absence of remorse. "The younger rises when the old doth fall"

4. "Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear's which scarcely keeps thee warm" - L (II, IV)

   • G & R - seek to take everything luxurious from L & L's rebuttal is aimed towards sisters' luxurious courtly garment which are entirely superfluous & impractical. - L criticise their vanity.

5. "Peace Kent, come not between the dragon and his wrath" - L (I, I)

   • L is speaking in verse. This metaphor shows how L believes he simply cannot be wrong and that everyone who opposes him is either confused, or a traitor, as evidence by the fact that he exiles K from the kingdom for standing up against him.
     • arrogant in views - he can do no wrong. metaphor of a 'dragon' - strong, impressive mythical creature - vain representation of himself.