King Lear Themes

King Lear Themes

1. Justice

   • "the gods are just" - Edgar
   • Although the evil and unjust characters die, the just and good characters also die
   • "Why should a dog, a horse and a rat have life and thou no breath at all?" - Lear to Dead Cordelia

2. Madness

   • The Fool seems to be delerious or mad yet his outlandish statements make sense.
   • Lears descent into madness however it makes him a modest man
   • Edgars fake madness, transforming into poor Tom the beggar
   • Gloucesters madness driving him to potential suicide

3. Symbols

   • Blindness
     • Lear and gloucester both are deceived by their disloyal children and are blind to the loyal children who actaully care for them.
     • Gloucester doesnt realise his blindness until his literal vision is taken from him rendering him physically blind
     • "i have no way, and therefore i want no eyes, I stumbled when i saw" - Gloucester
   • The Storm
     • the storm symbolises devine justice
     • The chaos of the storm reflects the political chaos that is occuring in the play

4. Main Characters

   • Lear (Father)
     • Cordelia (Youngest Daughter)
     • Regan (Middle Daughter)
     • Goneril (Oldest Daughter)
     • Gloucesteer (loyal to Lear)
       • Edgar (Gloucester legit son)
       • Edmund (Gloucester IIllegitimate son)
   • Fool (Lear Servent)
   • Kent (Loyal to Lear)