Deception In King Lear

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Today we will be looking at Shakespeare’s King Lear and its correspondence with many forms of human experiences. At the core, deception (betrayal), loss and insanity are key themes that depict human experience through each character. Open to interpretation, many characters undergo significant change throughout the course of the play, allowing for further thought and introduction of human experience. Within ‘King Lear’, such changes are sparked through defining moments which further develops characters and enables advancements in the tragedy.

True to Shakespeare, deception is finely entangled in the chaos and grows in magnitude as does the madness surrounding the plot. The very first words Goneril speaks are those of subterfuge. "Sir, I love …show more content…
His insanity is further aggravated by the Fool who blatantly tells King Lear, he was foolish to give away his kingdom. When referring to why a snail has a house, the fool says, “Why, to put's head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case.” and “Yes indeed. Thou wouldst make a good fool.” mocking King Lear’s actions. Ironically, here, it is a fool who has to educate the king. Lear's madness is furthermore emphasised by personifying the storm with himself. “Rumble thy bellyful. Spit, fire. Spout, rain./ Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters" allowing the audience to see the extent of Lear’s insanity through his mythological but realistic comparisons. King Lear insanity and turmoil provides him with important wisdom by reducing him to nothing, stripped of all his wealth and possessions and is where he realises the true value of what and whom he had …show more content…
King Lear is the story of a king amongst betrayal, deception and insanity and loss. And in its morality, communicates various aspects of the human nature and

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