Tragedy Through Misreading in William Shakespeares King Lear Essay

Tragedy Through Mis hearing in William Shakespeares powerfulness Lear Shakespeares tragedy, fairy Lear, portrays servicemany important misconceptions which result in a long sequence of tragic events. The foundation of the story revolves around 2 characters, King Lear and Gloucester, and concentrates on their common flaw, the inability to express truth in other characters. For example, the king condemns his own daughter after he distinctly misreads the truth tail end her dower,(1.1.107) or honesty. Later, Gloucester passes judgment on his son Edgar found on a letter in which he shall not convey spectacles(1.2.35) to read. While these two characters continue to misread peoples words, advisors around them repeatedly give hints to their misinterpretations, which pave the road for possible reconciliation. The acknowledgement of their mistakes, however, occurs after tragedy is inevitable. Gloucester and Lear, create their eventual downfalls due to their inability to read decei t. Though these characters share the same tragic flaw, the means by which they experience their errors is completely different. Gloucester remains a poor lector because he is quick to believe his sense of sight. When his illegitimate son, Edmund, reveals a deceitful letter intentional to incriminate Edgar, Gloucester is quick to believe him. Abominable villain(1.2.74) he cries out(a) before he even examines the letter with his reading glasses. Edmunds craft is conducted cleverly, but Gloucesters lack of disbelief is unexplainable. Even though Gloucester is a fundamentally good man he tends to have a disheartened view on his situation, as well as the rest of the world. Gloucester dis trifles his inability to read and comprehend reality once more when he begins to read the skies. ... ...able to regain his ability to see but it is during the last act of the play in which the circumstances are completely out of his control. These characters both(prenominal) cease because they are pushed way past the limits of human fortitude and competence. When Lear tells Gloucester A man may see how this world /goes with no eyes (4.6.146-47) he displays both of their misfortunes, but it is too late to prevent ultimate tragedy. Shakespeare proposes that their tragic saga is a mere game to the heavens. As flies to wanton boys, are we to th gods,/They kill us for their sport (4.1.37-38). This line generalizes the overall simplicity behind the tragedy of King Lear. Even though Gloucester and Lear made terrible, fatal errors the reader feels at the end as if it is intended to be their destiny.Work CitedShakespeare, William. King Lear . New York Oxford UP, 1994.