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English Tutorial – King Lear
At the end of King Lear the evil characters die a violent death, but so do the good ones. What does the play say about human and divine justice, or its absence?
There are many evident themes in Shakespeare’s play, ‘King Lear’, but perhaps one of the most prevalent relates to the theme of justice. ‘King Lear’ is a brutal play, filled with human cruelty and awful disasters. The play’s progression of terrible events makes both the characters in the play, and the readers question whether or not there is justice in the play, hence in the world.
The play raises the questions, who is responsible for what happens in the world and whether there is there any justice in the world? The characters in the play ask these questions themselves. Each of these characters gave their own interpretation to what causes downfall, and if there is any justice in the world. Kent blames the stars for one’s downfall. Lear, on the other hand, blames the Gods for the injustices in the world. In the storm scenes, Lear expects the Gods and the storm to take his side, by wiping out the entire world and destroy any possibility of future life. In this way, the storm will destroy human nature and therefore, it will destroy `ingrateful man!’, hence, Lear’s daughters. Gloucester, like Lear, blames the Gods for one’s misfortunes, since men is a puppet of the Gods. Edgar, his other son, has a different idea since he believes that “the gods are just,” He believes in the rather ‘ideal’ state were the Gods reward the good and punish the evil. After his fight with Edmund, Edgar once again insists that the Gods are just and that they punish evil people like his bother for their sins.
‘The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us;’
Albany like Edgar believes that the Gods are just, and that they punish evil people like Goneril and Regan for their sins. In fact, he says that Goneril and Regan’s death ‘Touches us not with pity’. However, after the death of Cordelia, Albany, the believer in justice also is in doubt to whether or not there is justice in the world. Lastly, according to Edmund, people cause their own downfall. In fact, after his fight with Edgar he admits that he has once again found his place at the bottom of the wheel of fortune, which shows that he, as an illegitimate son belongs at the bottom of society.
Towards the end of the play, the reader can notice that the evil characters are punished for their sins. Edmund, Goneril, Regan and Cornwall all die at the end of the play. Gloucester too pays for his sins, even though he is punished in the cruelest manner possible. He pays for his adultery, by having his eyes plucked out. King Lear is also punished throughout the play for being blind enough to believe Goneril and Regan’s words, rather than Cordelia’s sincerity. Like Cordelia, he is punished by being banished and humiliated. He is further punished by having to suffer madness. However, Lear’s worst punishment is having to see Cordelia’s death, hence this really does make him a man more sinned against than sinning. On the other hand, good characters like Edgar are rewarded, in this case, Edgar is titled as the new king of Britain. Therefore, order is restored in Britain. All of this makes the reader agree with Edgar and Albany that that the Gods are just, and that people get what they deserve. However, the reader cannot conclude that easily that there is justice in the play. This is because good characters like Kent, foresees his death. In addition, Gloucester and Lear’s death make the reader wonder whether or not they deserved such punishment. However, it is the death of the innocent Cordelia, which makes it hard for the reader to conclude whether or not there is justice in the play. After the death of Cordelia, Albany the believer in justice too is in doubt whether people really get what they deserve. All of this makes it difficult for the audience to tell which of the evil or good characters triumphs in the end.
Critics of ‘King Lear’ too tried to answer the question about the theme of justice in the play. A.C Bradley argues that in a tragedy like that of ‘King Lear’, characters cause their own downfall. He says the wrong that King Lear did to Kent and Cordelia is repaid with extreme cruelty hence making Lear a man more sinned against than sinning. Therefore, there is a sense of injustice in the play. However, A.C Bradley makes it clear that Lear has caused his own downfall, and that we cannot blame destiny or the Gods for our misfortunes like Lear did. But what about Cordelia? Bradley too blames Cordelia for her downfall, since according to him her pride led to her tragedy. This is were some of the readers may disagree with Bradley, since Cordelia did not refuse to tell her father how much she loved him, but rather she refused to flatter him. Bradley also adds that after suffering there is redemption. In the case of Lear, Lear learns the essence of life through suffering. Lastly, A.C Bradley argues that Shakespeare does not give the readers a direct answer as to whether or not there is justice in the world. According to Bradley, Shakespeare does not leave the reader with a specific judgment on divine justice or its absence, since there is an evidence of both.
Another critic, G. Wilson Knight argues that Lear’s suffering is related to the suffering he has caused to Kent and Cordelia. He also explains how Edmund to has reasons to complain of injustice, since he was an illegitimate son, hence he was at the bottom of society. Lastly, the most part of the play, which shows injustice, is the death of Cordelia. Wilson Knight argues that yes the evil characters are punished however, there is no sign of divine action. The good characters are rewarded only through a natural process. Lastly, Wilson concludes that not all good characters suffer while evil ones do not. According to him, fortune, rather than justice is the guiding principle. Wilson also agrees with A.C Bradley in saying that after suffering there is redemption. He agrees with Bradley in saying that Cordelia was proud, and so was Lear. However, Lear’s suffering was useful because it made him reunite with Cordelia, and hence learn the true meaning of love.
After reading the play, the readers are left with some doubt as to whether or not there justice in the play. This is because, although the evil characters do die in the play, so do the good, thus leading to the question that if there really was justice in the world, than why did the good die as well? Moreover, there is goodness in the play but there is also evil, thus making it difficult for the audience to tell which triumphs in the end.