Sympathy For King Lear
King Lear
If I were to stage a performance of King Lear, I would attempt to cultivates more sympathy for the unruly royal father. When I first read this play, I judged King Lear harshly for making one foolish mistake after another. I viewed his treatment of Regan, and Goneril as sufficient evidence for his eviction. King Lear was neither intelligent or moral. He was simply an outdated, foolish, and hostile old man. However, after digesting the play I have found the folly of my ways. Since the audience knows Cordelia’s intentions, it is all too easy for us to pass judgement on King Lear. My production of this play would illustrate King Lear’s disappointment at Cordelia’s answer, so the audience can at the very least appreciate the motivation for his rash decision, beyond concluding that he is punishing the only daughter who did not lie to him. After all, here is a man who has raised, and loved his daughters so completely that he is ready to hand over all he owns for their happiness. All he wants in return is some appreciation for this …show more content…
While his actions were not respectful towards the two dishonest sisters, they too are not unfounded. King Lear is used to getting everything he has ever wanted, and he has given it away with the expectations that he will still live the same lifestyle, and make his own rules. This is not an unreasonable expectation-- especially after Goneril and Regan's profession of love.
This theme of ineffective communication should also be highlighted in the Gloucester/Edgar/Edmund story arc. Edmund, like the two sister was able to manipulate his father to achieve his goals. He was able to capitalize on his father’s insecurities that became more pronounced when he witnessed the maltreatment of King Lear. He was able to relate to both Goneril and Regan to wind them around his
If I were to stage a performance of King Lear, I would attempt to cultivates more sympathy for the unruly royal father. When I first read this play, I judged King Lear harshly for making one foolish mistake after another. I viewed his treatment of Regan, and Goneril as sufficient evidence for his eviction. King Lear was neither intelligent or moral. He was simply an outdated, foolish, and hostile old man. However, after digesting the play I have found the folly of my ways. Since the audience knows Cordelia’s intentions, it is all too easy for us to pass judgement on King Lear. My production of this play would illustrate King Lear’s disappointment at Cordelia’s answer, so the audience can at the very least appreciate the motivation for his rash decision, beyond concluding that he is punishing the only daughter who did not lie to him. After all, here is a man who has raised, and loved his daughters so completely that he is ready to hand over all he owns for their happiness. All he wants in return is some appreciation for this …show more content…
While his actions were not respectful towards the two dishonest sisters, they too are not unfounded. King Lear is used to getting everything he has ever wanted, and he has given it away with the expectations that he will still live the same lifestyle, and make his own rules. This is not an unreasonable expectation-- especially after Goneril and Regan's profession of love.
This theme of ineffective communication should also be highlighted in the Gloucester/Edgar/Edmund story arc. Edmund, like the two sister was able to manipulate his father to achieve his goals. He was able to capitalize on his father’s insecurities that became more pronounced when he witnessed the maltreatment of King Lear. He was able to relate to both Goneril and Regan to wind them around his