King Lear Research Paper

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26 December 1606 became a significant date in English literature. It was a day filled with power, betrayal, and death. On that date was the first recorded performance of the play titled, The Tragedy of King Lear, written by William Shakespeare in 1605. King Lear was an aging man and father. He was an astounding leader, and he wanted to feel it. Therefore, in order to own a third of his land, he demands his three daughters to compete against one another over who loves him most. When youngest daughter, Cordelia, gets her turn to speak, she is offended that her father must hear words instead of actions of love. This erupted King Lear’s madness, which leads to the banishment of Cordelia and a revoked dowry. Thus begins the two elder daughters…show more content…
In the beginning of the play, when Cordelia says that she does not have any compliments towards her father, Lear becomes furious. A journalist from Stratford City Gazette interprets, “Lear is as much a play about adults acting like children as it is about growing old. The offspring talk to their parent in the same tones they may use to address their own small children” (“Character is key in stripped-down Lear”). King Lear is like a child when he throws a tantrum when his favorite daughter won’t say she loves him or when his to eldest daughters kick him out the homes Lear provided and taking away his men. Lear feels that the daughter he loved most does not love him back. Being a king is being royalty. King Lear most likely had others praising him his whole life before he was even born. King Lear does not see Cordelia’s way of showing love as respectful. When Cordelia dies, Lear’s madness resurfaces. He believed that he saw her breath, but it could be part of Lewy body dementia. This medical diagnosis was given by actor Simon Russell Beale’s nephew as a guide to properly portray King Lear at the National Theater. “Visual hallucinations, fluctuating confusions that comes and goes, and movement problems,” are symptoms described by Dr. Debbie Finch (“King Lear – nothing will come of nothing”). Not only is he aging, but he is also losing his

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