To begin, at various points throughout the play Lear reveals his struggles with his loss of identity and sanity. One instance occurs early during Act I, O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven
Keep me in temper: I would not be mad!" (I.5.45). Lear seems to be crying out to some external force and begging to leave his sanity. The tone gives a sense of pain and his deterioration.
Another on of the most obvious instances of Lear's suffering is evident in the relationship with his daughters. Towards the beginning of the play, Lear reveals the abuse from his daughters, "Some other time for that. Beloved Regan, Thy sister's naught: O Regan, she hath tied Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture..." (II.4.151). Lear compares his daughter to a vulture, an animal, with monstrous features like sharp teeth. He further expands on her wicked personality. The diction used here indicates he is obviously mad, but also in pain because his own daughter is treating him like an enemy.
Lastly, there is suffering among those who stand by Lear's side as he declines. Gloucester, someone who gave forever support to the king to the end of his life, commented on Lear's condition, O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world Shall so wear out to nought. Dost thou know me?" (IV.6.149-150). As Lear's memory starts to fade of those closest to him in his decline, Gloucester, someone who respected and looked up to him, is now suffering. Gloucester calls him "ruin'd" because he knew of Lear's condition before it had worsened to this.
King Lear undoubtedly had many instances of suffering. Through Lear's personal distress coming to terms with his own daughters' betrayal and his decline in mental health. But also those who stood by him like his daughter Cordelia, one banished for being honest, and Gloucester, a loyal companion who always looked out for him.
I like how you related the suffering to Albany and Gloucester too, not just King Lear himself. I think it is also interesting to consider if Albany and Gloucester's suffering only occurred because of Lear, or if they would have suffered anyway, because suffering is inevitable in the human condition.
ReplyDelete