King Lear :: William Shakespeare English Literature Essays

King LearSpit, fire Spout, rainNor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters.I tax you not, you elements, with unkindnessI never gave you kingdom, calld you children,You owe me no subscription then let downfallYour horrible pleasure...Imagine trusting your children with everything you have.Now imagine trusting your worst enemies with everything you have.Just think...They could be one in the same.Our Interview with Shakespeare Scholar, Jasper the Unicorn On King Lear by William ShakespeareKariMag What do you think of the tragedy that befalls King Lear?Jasper I think that a bent of the responsibility belongs to Lear.KariMag Can you give us any examples?Jasper Lear behaves a lot like child towards those who try to warn him against giving up his kingdowm to his two daughters, Regan and Goneril. He banishes Kent who tries to warn him, he threatens to whip the Fool who tries to warn him and he counterbalance ignores Cordelias speech about the speeches her sisters have given.KariMag Wh o do you think tries to warn him the most?Jasper Definately The Fool Because he is considered a person purely around for amusement, Lear does not give him seriously. The Fool tries many different stories, songs and scenarios to get Lear to see the truth of his crumbling kingdom.KariMag What about Kent? What role does Kent play?Jasper Kent is a casing who pretty much stops arduous to warn Lear and takes up the role of Lears protector. He defends Lear when Oswald insults him and he also tries his best to keep Lear safe from himself.KariMag What are we supposed to think of the Edgar/Poor Tom character?Jasper I think Billy - thats what I call him - wants the reader to think that Edgar/Poor Tom is the male equivalent to Cordelia. Despite the anger and hatred that Gloucester, his father, may feel for him, he still remains there to protect and defend his father. Theres an echoing theme of duty and loyalty on behalf of the child despite the style of the parent.KariMag Thats deep.Jasper Were also given the exact opposite of the Good Child, which would be Regan, Gonerial and Edmund.KariMag Are we supposed to feel that Edmund, in some way, is justified in his actions?Jasper Against his father, I think to a degree being referred to as a mistake might qualify as a reason to dislike ones father. But Edgar was only innocent in everything and Edgar exacting revenge in the end against the one who wronged by he and his father is definately a great example of Karma.