King Lear :: William Shakespeare English Literature Essays

King Lear Spit, fire! Spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters. I tax you not, you elements, with unkindness: I never gave you kingdom, call'd you children, You owe me no subscription: then let fall Your 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 Shakespeare KariMag: What do you think of the tragedy that befalls King Lear? Jasper: I think that a lot 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 even ignores Cordelia's speech about the speeches her sisters have given. KariMag: Who 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 take 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 character who pretty much stops trying to warn Lear and takes up the role of Lear's 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 - that's 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. There's an echoing theme of duty and loyalty on behalf of the child despite the behavior of the parent. KariMag: That's deep. Jasper: We're 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 one's father. But Edgar was completely 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.