Genre in King Lear - Tragedy

Genre in King Lear - Tragedy

1. Themes

   • Private theme
     • always ends up in death and disaster for more than just the hero
     • often sub plots (sub tragedy) running parallel
     • works on the hero as an individual and his relationships with others
   • Public theme
     • always resolved; a least one "good guy" left to take over the running of the country
   • Cosmic theme
     • actions of man are mirroerd by nature

2. rennaissance view of the tragic hero

   • hamartia is changed from human ignorance to a character degect in the hero
   • bad things are a result of the character defects which lead to the characters downfall