Tragedy Through Misreading in William Shakespeares King Lear Essay

Tragedy Through Misreading in William Shakespe ars King Lear Shakespeares tragedy, King Lear, portrays many important misconceptions which result in a long sequence of tragic events. The foundation of the story revolves around two characters, King Lear and Gloucester, and concentrates on their common flaw, the inability to read truth in other characters. For example, the king condemns his own daughter after he clearly misreads the truth behind her dower,(1.1.107) or honesty. Later, Gloucester passes judgment on his son Edgar based on a letter in which he shall not need spectacles(1.2.35) to read. While these two characters incubate to misread peoples words, advisors around them repeatedly give hints to their misinterpretations, which pave the road for possible reconciliation. The realization of their mistakes, however, occurs after tragedy is inevitable. Gloucester and Lear, create their eventual downfalls repayable to their inability to read deceit. Though these characters share the same tragic flaw, the means by which they make their errors is completely different. Gloucester remains a poor reader because he is quick to believe his sense of sight. When his illegitimate son, Edmund, reveals a deceitful letter designed to incriminate Edgar, Gloucester is quick to believe him. Abominable villain(1.2.74) he cries forth before he even examines the letter with his reading glasses. Edmunds trickery is conducted cleverly, but Gloucesters lack of disbelief is unexplainable. Even though Gloucester is a basically good man he tends to have a pessimistic view on his situation, as well as the rest of the world. Gloucester displays his inability to read and overtake reality once more when he begins to read the skies. ... ...able to regain his ability to see but it is during the last act of the play in which the circumstances are completely out of his control. These characters both die because they are pushed way past the limits of human fortitude and competence. When Lear tells Gloucester A man may see how this world /goes with no eyes (4.6.146-47) he displays both of their misfortunes, but it is too late to prevent ultimate tragedy. Shakespeare proposes that their tragic saga is a mere game to the heavens. As flies to dally boys, are we to th gods,/They kill us for their sport (4.1.37-38). This line generalizes the overall simplicity behind the tragedy of King Lear. Even though Gloucester and Lear made terrible, ignominious errors the reader feels at the end as if it is intended to be their destiny.Work CitedShakespeare, William. King Lear . New York Oxford UP, 1994.