King Lear: A Tragic Hero
King Lear: A Tragic Hero King Lear by William Shakespeare is an example of a classic tragedy. The main character, King Lear, is the tragic hero, which is one of the aspects of a tragedy. King Lear wrongfully judges his daughters when he asks them to describe their love for him. He banishes one of his daughters. Cordelia, even though she is the only one that truly loves him. When he discovers that his other daughters Goneril and Regan do not actually love him, he starts to go insane. However, Lear eventually realizes his mistakes and tries to mend his relationships. King Lear is a tragic hero because through his suffering, brought on by his pride, he learns to judge people based on character rather than appearances. King Lear is a complex character that has many flaws. However, the flaw that causes him most trouble is his hubris. He makes mistakes and he is too proud to admit them. One of his biggest mistakes is banishing Cordelia. Lear avows: “Let it be so [...] as thou my sometime daughter” (1.1.120-134). Lear expresses his newfound hatred for Cordelia. Even though she is being honest, he is furious. This is an example of Lear’s pride. The second somebody does not absolutely adore him, he becomes brash and angry. He quickly makes the decision to ban his own daughter and disown her, even though she is the only one that loves him truly. During his monologue, he claims that he is no longer a father to Cordelia because he finds her actions so wretched. He is horrified by the fact that somebody does not praise him like a god, so the only thing he can do to regain his position of nobility is to banish her and show that he has power over her. This is an awful quality that is part of what leads to Lear’s fall. Even Goneril and Regan recognize that Lear has made a terrible mistake. Goneril claims “He always loved our sister most, and with what poor judgement he hath now cast her off appears too grossly” (1.1.336-338). Even the appalling sisters understand what Lear