Hope and Suffering in Shakespeare’s King Lear

Shakespeare’s tragedy King Lear is an alloy of dichotomies on the structural, thematic and ideological levels, all which are established in the opening scene. As a dramatic piece, this tragic play explores the decline and downfall of the eponymous character, as a result of his blindness to truth and reality. This play revolves around a king who thoughtlessly estranges his only true daughter and when he realises the true natures of his other two daughters, it’s too late. A major subplot involves the two sons of Gloucester, one who plans to discredit their brother and betray his father. The deteriorating mental states of the characters and the depictions of brutal violence shows the world in which we live in is suffering, but that does not mean King Lear is without hope.

Hubris can lead people to make serious mistakes in judgement. When Lear says, “Which of you shall we say doth love us most?” The rhetoric of “shall we say” implies that there is competition between the sisters. It sets a tone and foreshadows future events. This quote highlights Lear’s ego. Where his failure is the inability to separate public and private life because of his pride, in which he is blinded by his hubris. Gloucester’s pride is shown in that he is embarrassed to have Edmund as a son. We can see this in his conversation with Kent, where he states, “I have so often blushed to acknowledge him.” It is because of his overly self-pride, which motivates Edmund to his actions. These actions eventually lead to Gloucester getting his eyes ‘plucked out’, losing the will to live and learning about Edgar’s true identity upon his death. Gloucester’s blindness, as just mentioned, further supports the idea of ‘appalling suffering’ in King Lear, for despite Gloucester’s words that “I am your host, do me no foul play, friends”, he is later blinded upon Goneril’s instruction to ‘pluck out his eyes’. Hence, when the betrayal of Edmund is in play, the subplot further magnifies the suffering of the play.

In Lear’s mind, madness reflects the mayhem that has descended upon his kingdom. Lear gradually grows more and more insane due to all the horrible things that keep on happening to him. Lear’s madness is caused by and shown though the foolish actions which not only affects himself but for others around him as well. When Lear finally sees that he is going mad, “O, let me not be mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper, I would not be mad!”, he is begging to the gods to prevent him from going mad. Him plunging into insanity, makes him do things which are not suitable at his time, Lear rants, “Return to her, and fifty men dismissed? No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose to wage against the enmity o’ the air, to be a comrade with the wold and the owl,” This whole list of things he’d rather do are all dangerous and foolish. But this does not mean the end of King Lear. King Lear realises his mistakes when he was thrown out of the storm by his daughters. The storm is a physical turbulent which reflects upon his internal confusion, “one mind like the weather.” Shakespeare maybe here suggests that the madness present in Lear, “this tempest in my mind” arises from the rejection, conflict and imbalance of the power within the family, effectively portrayed in the symbolic storm scene. He realises the disownment of Cordelia was foolish and recognises it as a sin. In Lear’s last moments, he mourns, “my poor fool hanged.” The realisation that Cordelia and the fool, the people he loathed, were the ones who were the dearest and most valuable to him.

Despite all the tragedies, sufferings, losses and injustices in this world, there is still a chance that we can get redemption. Throughout the play, both King Lear and the Earl of Gloucester experience suffering due to their foolish actions and judgements. Shakespeare dramatizes the long way in order for the characters to seek redemption, to amplify their suffering. Whilst both Lear and Gloucester experience great suffering, it is Lear that loses the most and endures the suffering more significantly. Lear 's hubris and need for flattery caused him to banish two of the most loyal people to him, one of them was his daughter. King Lear’s redemption is shown at the end when his true daughter, Cordelia, is captured. Lear has learnt the truth and discovered himself through suffering. And through this suffering, he has recognised Cordelia, with some hope to redeem himself. This is the scene where Lear and Cordelia are finally united and together, and Lear shows how much he loves her, “when thou don’t ask me a blessing, ill kneel down and ask of the forgiveness so we'll live and pray and sing...” Cordelia, the girl that she is, the hope of human redemption and reconciliation through love, forgives her father, which shows how strong of a character she really is. Lear, getting down on his knees saying, “I am a very old foolish fond man,” and “I fear not in my perfect mind,” shows that he is truly penitent, hoping to create that bond they once had.

In conclusion, Lear’s overly self-pride is the main cause of his mistakes in judgement, the cause of his suffering. The tragic madness of King Lear makes him suffer for the consequences of his wrongdoings. The sin, punishment and redemption are all fully embodied into Lear’s death. Where the innocent dies due to the mistakes in lack of judgement. His journey from a character being blinded by his pride, to a character who wishes to redeem himself. Shows that despite all the tragedies and sufferings, there is still hope in this world.