In the play King Lear, we read about a king, who broke the covenant given by God to be king as he divded his kingdom to be ruled by his daughters.
In my opinion, why should Lear test his daughter's love for him. Even if he hears their professed love, won't he doubt them? How true can words be? As I have a friend who always reminds me, "Words are only words. You can say anything in this world, but can you prove it?" Lear, a king, can also fall from his elevated place before of false flattery. His two elder daughter Genoril and Regan professed great love for their father but had evil intention.
Cordelia, on the other hand had little words to offer. Sometimes, one may say little but mean a lot more than one who has a lot to say. It is the action, thoughts and concern that matter, not words because it is easy to say but not easy to accomplish. Furthermore, promises are easy to be broken. I find her foolish in a way because since her sisters has given so much flattering words, her few words would be an insult to her father. Maybe she can say more to avoid disappointing her father.
In Lear, I could see how much a father loves his daughters. He is willing to let them rule his kingdom and he surrenders all he has to live with them and to depend on them. His actions remind me how loving and how sacrificial a father can be. It makes me think of my father, although he does not say much, but I know that he loves me. (ok, a little out of topic here) However, his love was betrayed as his daughters mistreated him. Why must Regan and Genoril have evil intentions? Why can't they be grateful for what their father has given them and live with what they have? I felt that that two daughters should be thankful and treat their father well, not deny him of a place to stay or to reduce his knights. He has his own pride too.
This play makes me think a lot about human nature, the greediness of human beings and how unkind they can be even to their own kin. Edmund, although a bastard, is still his father's son. He betrayed Gloucester, his father to earn recognition from Cronwall, and to take over his title. Gloucester has treated him well although not every aspect but still he does not deserve such a treatment as Gloucester eyes are blinded as a punishment. Edmund, Regan and Genoril all show ingratitude, greediness in man and the desire for more power. We can aim for more but there should be a limit to it also.
In short, King Lear may not be an epic drama but it has made me think a lot.
Hye there,.. as i was reading your blog, i was drawn to the part where you say, "sometimes one may say little but mean lot more than one who has lot to say". Based on the play, The King was being manipulated into believing what he wants to believe as oppose to what actually lies under the sweet words the two daughters were telling him. He was so into the whole idea of professing the feeling openly and verbally wheres the truth sometimes may not lies in the utterances rather the actions. In this play, audience could also noted just how deep a father's love could be and just how much hope he have had towards his offspring but it was all to no use as he was betrayed mercilessly. Through this play, we could also see how human could be selfish and greedy when it come to the matters that involving money, power and status. This also reflect the whole reality out there as well, don't you think? overall, i have enjoyed my reading on your blog and understand your view on the play.
ReplyDeleteHi hi~ believe it or not, the part you say your dad loves you and you know that captures my attention! I am sure your dad will be so touch when he reads your blog. haha. Well, i bet all parents love their children. Sadly in the case of King Lear, the two elder daughters do not love their father as much as he loves them, but worst of all, they even have the heart to mistreat him and make him goes mad! The world has gone crazy! Wait till one day they receive the retribution and when their children treat them that way too. Okie, it's just a play and i shouldnt get so worked up, but seriously, how many cases have we heard from todays newspaper saying children abandone their parents. It seems very normal for them to send their old folks to old folks home. Some might says its a good thing to do, since they have to work, its better to send them to be taken care rather than fall down and die at home unknowingly. Well, it all depends on the situation. If parents can take care of us when we are young and vulnerable, why cant we take care of them when they are old? They just need love, in fact, we are all thirsty of love and care. Anyway, i hope you and your family happy always! Another 2 months, and we'll be back to their side =)
ReplyDeleteI agree that "King Lear" is a mind-provoking play that make us think a lot on human nature..
ReplyDelete"King Lear" is no doubt a tragedy but in my opinion, this tragedy should only be given limited sympathy because everything that happened in that play were caused by human's actions. Every catastrophy and misfortune that Lear and Gloucester went through was all because of them diverting out from the law of nature. Therefore, there were nothing to be sympathized with them.
However I do sympathized Cordelia that was dead at the end of the play. She was the victim of Lear's actions, and although Lear too had suffered and died and the end of the play, I still do not think that Cordelia should suffer the same consequences as Lear. But Cordelia had lived her life, at least she had married a man that sincerely wanted her at the first place. That was one of the plesurable things that I've read in the play.
The death of Edmund, which was the second pleasure in this play, proved to us that no matter how smart you are, you can never outwit the Gods. Human nature possesed such weakness that constantly trying to write their own destiny, it should be the thing that we all ponder on and think,
WHY WE SHOULD NEVER TRY TO GO BEYOND THE COURSE OF NATURE.