The play King Lear is primarily an assessment of human identity in its exploration of the relationships between characters. As a fundamental aspect of life, human identity comprises of elements that constitute our daily lives and is the point from which we define and present ourselves to others. The existence of human identity as a constant through time allows the play to be applicable regardless of era or context and audiences can still relate to the values presented in the play, making it a popular and enduring work of literature. In considering the way in which the themes of human nature versus nature, deception and family relationships are relevant to our own personal context, we realise the universality of the play to all audiences.
Human nature versus nature is a prevalent theme throughout the play that contributes to the enduring exploration of human identity. Shakespearean society held the belief that human identity was determined by nature and that the state of nature reflected individuals’ positions on the Chain of Being. Through this we notice that the society within King Lear is merely a microcosm that is a replica of the macrocosm. This parallel between man and nature can explain why in King Lear the turmoil of the natural elements reflect not only the chaos in the kingdom, but the inner thoughts of certain characters. Following Lear’s banishment from his daughters, Regan and Goneril, there is a tremendous storm raging and Lear calls on nature, ‘Rumble thy belly; spit, fire; spout, rain! / Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters. [ … ]Here I stand your slave’. This disturbance in the cosmos confirms that Lear is the rightful king and his exile is a violation of the natural order, reflecting Lear’s inner thoughts and emotions through pathetic fallacy. The use of imperatives confirms the status of Lear as king in that he commands such a tremendous force such as nature. Not only does it affirm the Elizabethan notion of the Divine Right of Kings, it also emphasises the belief Lear has in his right to make such orders. In addition, this commanding tone in juxtaposition to the submissive tone used in ‘Here I stand your slave’ reflects Lear’s displacement as the rightful king. The accumulation of the natural elements further emphasises the violation of the natural order which is reflected in the disruption in the greater cosmos. By giving nature human qualities through the personification of ‘Rumble thy belly’, a closer connection between nature and man is established and affirms the reflection of societal activities in the greater cosmos. This establishment of the social hierarchy remains present today. Although nature may not play as big a role in modern times, hierarchies remain present within today’s society as people are still perceived and judged based on their placement in society. The play King Lear hence remains relevant as people can relate to the themes within and hence it has endured.
The theme of deception permeates time in its relevance to human identity. Individuals in Shakespearean society were treated according to their position on the Chain of Being and hence by the amount of wealth and power they possessed. This was a major catalyst for deception within the society of King Lear. Following the exit of Gloucester in the beginning of the play, Lear begins to express the ‘darker purpose’ of the meeting and asks each daughter to proclaim their love. Goneril begins saying, “Sir, I love you more than word can yield the matter, […] No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour, […] Beyond all manner of so much I love you”. Regan follows by proclaiming her love for Lear as well. The use of hyperbole in ‘Sir, I love you more than word can yield the matter’ emphasises the importance of Lear to Goneril and identifies the extent to which her love reaches. This can also be seen in the accumulation in Goneril’s speech where the comparison she makes between her love and the significant aspects of life of 'health, beauty, honour' reinforces the extent to which she cares for her father. The initial caesura following ‘Sir’ emphasises the regard Goneril has for her father, the respect she holds for him and for his authority. In addition to this, irony exists in 'love you more than word can yield the matter'. She is expressing her love in words and so is contradicting herself. This is also contradictory in that she does not truly love him but is merely exaggerating her love in order to yield land from her father. However, deception as inherent in human nature is illustrated in the sisters’ betrayal of their father. Following Lear’s division ad distribution of the kingdom to his two daughters, he remained at Goneril’s palace. However despite the great love she spoke of initially, she cries out to her steward saying, “By day and night, he wrongs me; every hour/ He flashes into one gross crime or other/ That sets us all at odds”. The antithesis of ‘day and night’ identifies the deception taking place as it resembles the contrast between the love proclaimed by the daughters initially in comparison to their current treatment of their father. In addition to this, the contrast of the caesura after ‘wrongs me’ with the proceeding enjambment also emphasises the extent to which the behaviour of the daughters changed towards their father. The use of irony in ‘crime’ is an exaggeration of the minor faults of Lear and this represents the impatience his daughters have with him. In addition to this it they are committing crimes themselves in going against nature by disrupting the chain of being. The contrasting behaviours displayed by the daughters as a result of the lust for power are a representation of the inborn deception within all humans. Hence the play King Lear remains enduring as people continue to relate to the universal themes within.
The enduring nature and universality of the play King Lear is the result of its examination of human identity which is a fundamental aspect of life. Human nature versus nature and deception are both characteristics of human identity and hence have both assisted in the enduring nature of the text as they provide individuals with relatable events to their own lives. The hierarchical system which was believed to be determined by nature mirrors the social hierarchy present today as in both, individuals are perceived and judged based on their position. The deception inherent in human nature also exists today as it is universal and present in all humans regardless of time.
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