King Lear. Is where we can find the nonstop conflict between appearance and reality. a Love that makes breath poor, and speech unable. Beyond all matter of so much i love you (I.i.56-62) Goneril said. Goneril and Regan, they appeared to be loyal and loving to their father, their overflowing love turns out to be a huge con just to convince him with their love and loyalty to gain power. They kept on expressing their love and that’s what he wanted to hear from them while they never meant a word of what they said. Gloucester informs us how cruel Regam and Goneril are. And these two lovely daughters are totally contradicts the way Gluocester describes them.
Edmund is not any better too, at first; he was that innocent, helpless, not recognized bastard child of Kent. Edmaud’s true personality was exposed, and how jealous he is towards his brother Edgar. Hence, he was not called innocent anymore and turns to be a villain. He started to express what he wants and thinks of, he’s trying to be as good as his brother Edgar, also he’s making his point and take over Edgars land and starts to show the evil plans he has up his sleeve. Gloucester got deceived by Edmund, he wasn’t expecting that Edmund turns to be this way and uncovers his evil side, not only that, Edmund is actually planning to destroy Gloucester. Edmund planned to make the family break and fall apart, misguided his father and asked him not to go after his brother because that might destroy Gloucester’s reputation and appears to be the good son. Edmund stayed in disguise for a long time unlike Goneril and Regan who were quickly exposed. Showing his father love and willing to protect him.
Gloucester finally realizes and could tell the difference and not to get misled into this, and realizes that Cornwall and Regan commit such a heinous crime against their father. Edmund gets exposed by Regan and his true material appears and lets Gloucester know that Edmund hated him from the beginning and he’s not innocent at all
Shakespeare shows that not everything is as appears to be and the theme of appearance versus reality goes through Edgar, Kent and King Lear himself.
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