King Lear
By: July • Essay • 649 Words • April 15, 2010 • 1,019 Views
King Lear
In the King Lear play, Shakespeare creates many conditions in
which humans live in the world. The main characters in the play are
used to portray Shakespeare's ideas. One of these ideas which
Shakespeare is trying to portray is evil between the characters and in
the world which are emphasized throughout the play. The evil, created
by humans, is outweighed by good in the world of King Lear.
Evil was created by humans who decided to do wrong to others.
Duke of Albany, said that all evil people will be justly punished (ACT
V, iii, 303). Albany indicated that it is the people who caused evil
and people decided to do evil, not gods. Lear believes that since
Edgar is out on the heath he must have given everything to his
daughters as well (ACT III, iv, 62ff). Since he believes that Edgar
gave everything to evil Lear must believe that people are the cause of
evil. It were Lear's daughters who decided to do wrong to Lear and it
was Lear's fault in giving away all of his land. Si ughters are the
humans in the play, it is the humans who caused the evil and Lear
believes that humans were the ones who created evil. Edgar, is another
character in the play who believes that evil is caused by humans and
not the gods. Edgar said, "The gods are just, and of our peasant vices
make instruments to plague us" (ACT V, iii, 169). Edgar clearly says
that the gods are right and it is the people who are responsible for
promoting evil in the world. It is us who make the instruments
necessary for evil to spread and plague the world. In the world of
King Lear many characters believe evil was caused by the people and
not by the gods.
Even though evil was created by humans good will always exist.
After King Lear was captured he showed that even if evil exists, good
will always be present. Lear speaks about love with Cordelia in the
prison cell and how they will still have each other despite of the
evil around them (ACT V, iii, 8). On another occasion Lear also says
that despite all the evil in the world the raw nature, which is good,
is still