Disorder in King Lear Essay -- King Lear essays

Dis ready in tabby Lear Order from distract sprung. (Paradise Lost) A kingdom without order is a kingdom in chaos (Bartelby.com). In Shakespeares tragic play, King Lear, the audience witnesses to the devastation of a great kingdom. Disorder engulfs the land once Lear transfers his power to his daughters, but as the great American writer, A.C. Bradley said, The ultimate power in the tragic world is a moral order (Shakespearean Tragedy). By examining the concept of order versus disorder in the setting, plot, and the character King Lear, Bradleys idea of moral order is clearly demonstrated by the outcome of the play. By removing a degree or not acting according to the natural social order, disorder and disharmony in the consentaneous of the universe are inevitable (Sarah Doncaster). Bradleys idea of moral order is evident from the setting of the play. An excellent example from the play would be that of the storms. By using the technique of pathetic fallacy, Shakespeare creates a storm raging in the sky to reflect the storm raging inside of Lear. Upon the heath, Shakespeare intertwines this idea of disorder in the universe and disorder within Lear. King Lear says, Rumble they bellyful Spit, fire spout, rain Nor rain, wind thunder, fire, are my daughter I tax you not, you elements, with unkindness I never gave you kingdom, calld you children... (3, ii, 14-17) Lears feelings in this career parallel the disorder of the storm. To bring order to the universe, Lear must start by bringing order to himself. This occurs when he becomes lawful and puts his daughters on trial. Soon after, Lear says, When the rain came to nonsensical me once and the wind ... ... statement because of the innocent deaths, it is these innocent deaths which further support the fact that moral order is supreme. The Phrygian Stoic philosopher, Epictetus said it best, Since it is order which shapes and regulates all other(a) things, it ought not itself to be left in disorder (Ep ictetus) Works Cited Bradley, A.C. Shakespearean Tragedy. London Macmillan, 1905 Doe, John. Open Quote Bartelby.com http//www.bartleby.com/81/14917.html Doncaster, Sarah. Discuss the Representation of Nature in Shakespeare King Lear. Shakespeare Online. http//www.shakespeare-online.com/essays/learandnature.asp 04 May. 2000 Epictetus. Discourses. Boston Harvard University Press, 1928 Milton, John. Paradise Lost. Oregon University of Oregon, 1997 Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Oxford Oxford University Press, 1998