ENGLISH ADVANCED

King Lear: Module B Speech

Perhaps it would not be easy to find any author, who invented so much as Shakespeare. This opinion by Samuel
Johnson reveals Shakespeare as a master of theatre. His tragedy King Lear allows the audience to refine their
interpretation of key ideas conveyed throughout key scenes of the text. He cumulates the concept of true and false
loyalty between characters, as well as their misguided acts of justice and injustice, which allows his audience to
analyse and appreciate his textual integrity.
In King Lear, Shakespeare explores the idea of creating a false image of loyalty for the purpose of deception. In the
opening scene, King Lears daughters Goneril and Reagan introduce the concept of false loyalty as Goneril
exaggerates her lover through cumulative listing and the hyperbole Sir, I love you more than word can wield the
matter; Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty, highlighting her attempt to manipulate Lear. The character Edmund
creates a false bond of loyalty with his father, Earl Gloucester, by proclaiming Edgar wishes to murder their father, in
which Gloucester responds Evil villain! Monstrous, hateful, bestial villain!, using negative language to emphasise his
hatred for Edgar and trust in Edmund, conveying his success of manipulation. Shakespeare introduces false loyalty
in the opening scene of the play but is contradicted through his representation of true loyalty.

Shakespeare identifies true loyalty between characters in the first and last acts of the text. True loyalty is represented
through Cordelia, who refuses to exaggerate her love through emotive language in Unhappy that I am, I cannot
heave my heart into my mouth, and highlights the authenticity of her love for Lear as she refuses to take advantage
of his self-absorbance as her sisters had, but is ironically banished. The character Kent is banished for defending
Cordelia, but symbolizes true loyalty. Through the motif of disguise he returns to serve Lear, symbolizing his true
loyalty. After Lear passes, Kent proclaims My master calls me; I must not say no, implying his suicide and eternal
loyalty to Lear. Acts of true loyalty in King Lear are explored in the opening and ending scenes and exist in
correlation to the deserved justice of the characters.

Corresponding to the concept of true and false loyalty, Shakespeare incorporates acts of justice and injustice by
characters into key scenes of the text. Cordelias banishment introduces the idea of injustice in the opening scene, as
Lear proclaims Thy truth then be thy dower. The metaphor highlights Lears refusal to accept her honest
proclamation of love and signifies the injustice she receives for speaking truthfully. In relation, Gloucester receives
injustice through the motif of sight, as he is blinded for helping Lear escape from execution, in which he is revealed
by Edmund. It was he that made the overture of thy treasons to us, revealing his betrayal of Gloucester. The lack of
justice in King Lear is later avenged by the justice received by the villains of the text.

Despite the lack of justice expressed throughout the play, the ending scene provides an introduction of justice.
Cordelia warns her sisters that Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides, who covers faults at last with shame
derides, which foreshadows how their true motives will eventually be discovered, as seen through Lears
characterisation of Goneril through animal imagery in the metaphor Sharper than a serpents tooth. This grants
Cordelia moral justice as Lear realizes his other daughters manipulation as he portrays them as evil. The battle
between Edgar and Edmund serves justice on Edmunds behalf, as he is murdered for his treachery, evident through
the metaphor Thou art a traitor, false to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father, emphasizing the injustice he initiated.
Shakespeare relies on the ending scene of the play to express the idea of divine justice.

Shakespeares King Lear thoroughly conveys the central ideas of false and true loyalty corresponding to the justice
and injustice received by the characters through the opening and end scene of the play. Through the analysis of this
text, individuals are able to develop an understanding and appreciation of the textual integrity which has led to the
continuation of the study of it as a prescribed text.