Although both Lear and Frankl lived tragic lives, Frankl learned how to handle his suffering in ways that Lear could definitely learn from.
Frankl discovers that it is not really the physical suffering of his situation that is the worst but the "mental agony caused by injustice"(36). Lear also discovers the greater suffering of the mind when his power is taken by his daughters and he is forced out into the storm. But unlike Lear, Frankl develops a way to deal with his mental suffering. Frankl develops apathy to his situation and this allows him to actually ease some of his suffering simply because it was a different outlook. He found that if he focused all his emotions and efforts on one task then his harsh reality dimmed. If Lear had done the same, he may have saved himself some trouble.
Frankl also discovers that "the salvation of love is through love and in love"(49). Frankl found that if he focused on love this would ease his suffering as well. Frankl would picture his wife in his mind and have conversations with her and this is what saved him from some mental suffering. Lear actually finds out this as well but not until the end of the play. Lear tells Cordelia that they will be happy to go to jail because at least they will be together and be able to live the rest of their lives with someone they love.
I also think it is very interesting that despite the terrible situation that Frankl went through, in his writing there is no hint of self pity. Frankly, I think as a concentration camp survivor that Frankl is entitled to some self pity but the fact that he does not is remarkable. Lear on the other hand does have various instances of self pity and that does nothing to help his situation.
Lear could learn from Frankl's tactics of how to limit suffering in a terrible situation where it seems that hope is lost.
I agree that Lear could have learned from Frankl. Although Lear touches on realizing a way to attain peace of mind when he considers how he could be happy in prison with Cordelia, he never manages to cope with his mental suffering like Frankl does.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Lear could have learned a lesson about self-pity from Frankl. Lear's whole rant about how hard his life is after his daughters turn against him sounds pretty absurb now that we have heard Frankl's story without a hint of self-pity. Maybe if Lear read Frankl's account of his experiences, he would have looked at his own experiences in a different light.
ReplyDelete