Discuss the plot construction of the play king lear
Answers
The first scene in King Lear starts with a short conversation between Kent, Gloucester and Edmund, in which some information about Edmund’s relation to his father is given.
Then the conversation is interrupted by Lear’s entrance, who immediately declares that he intends to divide his kingdom and thus sets the action going. Later on in the play the division of his kingdom and above all the fact that he rejects Cordelia, who unlike Gonoril and Regan really loves him, turn out to be fatal faults.
But as early as the first scene we notice that Lear is wrong in doing so. Gonoril’s and Regan’s speeches, which seem to be overdone and show their hypocrisy, Kent’s warning, Cordelia’s honest behaviour and her way of reproaching her sisters indicate that deep conflicts will be caused by this event.
Furthermore Lear is characterized as a man who insists on his subjects and his daughters obeying his orders and submitting to his will. Lear’s reaction to Cordelia’s unwillingness to take part in this public `contest of love´
(Sc. 1; 38-100) reveals tyrannical features.2 This impression is supported by the banishment of Kent. Lear’s fault becomes obvious; it is Lear’s character which makes him set a situation out of which the tragic conflict arises.
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