Now, its hard to believe that any law would be so ludicrous as to allow for the cutting of flesh without the expectation that blood should be shed. Having died in 1616, then, its likely that Shakespeare had never met a real Jew in his life. Instead, the audience is expected to struggle with the question of why such tragedies occur. So the only justice that remains at the end of the play rests solely with the Christians, as the way it should be in a cultural cosmos where Jews and aliens are viewed not as individuals with rights, but simply agents that exist and are barely tolerated in society, let alone protected by law. Justice is not always about doing the fair thing it is also about moral righteousness which is why justice is ultimately served in King Lear. Who in the play is causing harm for the love of gold? Tutor and Freelance Writer. Tragedy emerges from bonds broken between parents and childrenand, at a secondary level, from the loss of ties among siblings. Some critics see the play as a warning against the dangers of injustice, while others view it as a more complex exploration of the relationship between justice and power. Major Symbols, Next He is punished for this crime through the gouging out of his eyes. The Role of Justice in King Lear: An In-Depth Analysis, Confessional Poetry Definition & meaning, The Importance of the Masque in Act IV Scene 1 of The Tempest, From the Start: The Foreshadowing of King Lears Tragic End, The Significance of Setting and Imagery in King Lear: A Descriptive Analysis, The Tragic Themes of King Lear: A Deep Dive into Shakespeares Masterpiece, A Journey Through King Lear: Act-wise Breakdown and Analysis, A Guide to Understanding the Significance of Shakespeares Have More Than Thou Showest, Speak Less Than Thou Knowest, Lend Less Than Thou Owest, Unlocking the Layers of King Lears Character: A Descriptive Introduction, Compare Hamlet with Macbeth, Othello and other Tragedies, The Pardoners Tale is the finest tale of Chaucer, Prologue to Canterbury Tales (Short Ques & Ans), Tell Me What You Really Think (SHORT POEM). Critical Essays Get custom essays. Portia is speaking to a Jew in Christian terms, which exposes a fundamental mismatch between the two parties. Regan and Goneril are both more interested in the power that comes with inheriting the kingdom, while Cordelia is punished for being honest about her lack of love for her father. The question of what is just is further complicated by the actions of Lears daughters, who are motivated by greed and ambition rather than a sense of justice. Jews) would be doubly adamant in their efforts to pursue their own course of justice, or be doubly vehement that their wishes be granted when the opportunity arises. 2. The idea of divine justice is a recurring theme in King Lear, and it is often used to explain the tragic events that unfold. Cordelia loses when she refuses to play the game, but Lear also loses when he "retires" and abdicates his kingly role. Cornwall, who was the husband of Regan, is not a fundamental character however through his actions such as the gouging out of Gloucesters eyes; he had a major impact on the play. So, is Shakespeare serving up a slice of the moral pie? So while Portia preaches what Matthew advises in the New Testament if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also, her actions seem more Old Testament-esque. Previous Easy English Notes 2021. As Lopez died at the scaffold, Shakespeare would most probably have been in the crowd, looking on at this harrowing sight. The duke cannot deny the course of law:For the commodity that strangers haveWith us in Venice, if it be denied,Will much impeach the justice of his state;Since that the trade and profit of the cityConsisteth of all nations. After all, theres nothing strange about a fathers rage over his daughters thievery and abandonment, so why is Shylocks response deemed unnatural? Despite the ambiguity surrounding the concept of justice in King Lear, it remains a central theme that drives the actions of the characters and shapes the trajectory of the plays plot. In Shylocks mind, the prospect of turning the Christian law against a Christian, and to witness this as a Jew relegated to the social side lines, is more than just schadenfreude it is Gods way of finally vindicating him, and is his one shot at justice on his own terms. This theme is conveyed through the characters of Lear, Gloucester and Edgar using literary and dramatic techniques. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What is an unreliable narrator? It currently publishes more than 6,000 new publications a year, has offices in around fifty countries, and employs more than 5,500 people worldwide. Gloucesters punishment is not equal and appropriate to his crime. Considering the laws intimidating, and at times, intervening, presence in Renaissance theatre (and in Shakespeares professional career), it wouldnt seem unlikely for the Bard to make a subtle dig at the legal institutions of his time. Overall, King Lear is a cautionary tale about the dangers of injustice, and it shows how important it is for justice to be upheld and respected. I bookmarked this and look forward to coming back to it soon for reading and reflection. If you fit this description, you can use our free essay samples to generate ideas, get inspired and figure out a title or outline for your paper. Although Lear is perceived as 'a man more sinned against than sinning' (p.62), the treatment of the main characters . The natural order of the world is eventually re-established from fair to good by the end of King Lear. Just finished rereading the play and love its deep irony and construction. But the evidence of his greatness is seen in Kent's devotion, in the love of his Fool, and in Cordelia's love, which is sustained, in spite of Lear's rejection. To achieve his goal, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia are forced into a love test to determine their inheritance. For example, Regan and Goneril use their positions as Lears daughters to gain control of the kingdom, even though they have no real claim to it. The use of high modality and dramatic irony is implemented by Shakespeare to emphasise Edmunds disregard for the existence of gods while also foreshadowing his decision to take justice into his own hands. Hailed as an inventor of words from elbow to sneak, and a master playwright who created some of the most enduring plot structures, like that of [], In King Lear, William Shakespeare displays two similar characters with many vices. Removing #book# The quality of mercy is not strained,It droppeth as the gentle rain from heavenUpon the place beneath: it is twice blest;It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomesThe throned monarch better than his crown;His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,The attribute to awe and majesty,Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;But mercy is above this sceptred sway;It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,It is an attribute to God himself;And earthly power doth then show likest GodsWhen mercy seasons justice. One other important element of kingship is its connection to natural law and the image of kings as anointed by God. Such a world provides stuff for tragedies of Shakespeare who accepts the world as it is and King Lear' is no exception to it. When we think about Shakespearean tragedy, the plays we usually have in mind are Titus Andronicus, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra and Coriolanus.That core list of nine can be expanded to twelve, however, if we include the history plays Richard III and Richard II, both of which were also billed as tragedies in Shakespeare's day, and . Professional Writers that Guarantee an On-time Delivery. The English understood that a strong country needed an effective leader to protect it from civil war and potential foreign invasion. Edmund dies after battling his disguised brother and after all the grief that he causes, his death is highly anticipated. The play shows what happens when justice is denied or perverted, and the consequences are devastating. Bassanios use of performative diction shows, the show, ornament, voice etc. As such, despite the rhetorical brilliance Portia demonstrates in this moment, her extensive use of Christian imagery reveals that she is an ineffective communicator, because she doesnt speak in a language that is familiar to her target of persuasion. Wherefore base? Its enduring relevance and complex themes make it a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of power, family, and justice. However, achieving justice is not a simple task. Request Permissions. Gradesfixer , A Theme Of Justice In King Lear By William Shakespeare., A Theme Of Justice In King Lear By William Shakespeare [Internet]. Shakespeare creates an uncertain and cruel perspective of justice, with the blinding of Gloucester being a highly divisive plot point in the play, forcing the reader to question whether justice truly exists in the Shakespearean world. This is why, despite Portia having spoke thus much, all her words seem to fall on deaf ears. The king ismore than the physical evidence of a strong and united government. Thereafter, Jewish presence in English society was hidden and scant, and it wasnt until Oliver Cromwells efforts to allow open Jewish faith practice in the 1650s that Jews started to slowly reassimilate into English society. From what most sources can tell, Shakespeare himself was almost certainly not a racist or an anti-Semite, so why did he choose to cast a Jew as a figure of extreme cruelty (as indicated on the cover of the 1623 First Folio) to explore the theme of justice? The strong leadership of Elizabeth I had saved England when the Spanish attempted an invasion in 1588, and much of the credit for her success was attributed to her earlier efforts to unite England and to end the religious dissention that was destroying the country. Among these themes, justice plays a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of the plays plot and characters. The king is God's representative on earth, and as such, serves as a model of behavior for all his subjects, who look to their king for guidance, strength, and hope. As if it wasnt clear enough that Shylock is the other, the alien, the Jew in the play, the 1623 First Folio reinforces our sense of his otherness by abruptly changing Shylocks name to the racial tag Jew upon his entering the court scene. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. In the end, no easy answer surfaces to the question of divine justice, except that perhaps man must live as if divine justice exists, even if it's only a product of rich and wishful imaginations. I never heard a passion so confused,So strange, outrageous, and so variable,As the dog Jew did utter in the streets:My daughter! But how then does the audience account for the punishment and, finally, the death of the good characters in King Lear? Of course, the evil characters are also dead, but their punishment is to be expected according to the laws of divine justice. In spite of the seemingly senseless death of this young woman, Shakespeare never intended for his audience to escape the painful questions that Cordelia's death creates. Divine Justice. In response to the questioning he replies, O, reason not the need! Great to hear, and thanks for reading Joseph! King Lear is the finest specimen of deep tragdy in English drama, although it is not the most popular. The law! Conveying Lear in this state later in the play allows Shakespeare to deliver a sense of justice to his character, who was an arrogant and ignorant King who had minimal regard for others. You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers. They reject any allegiance to God or to any divine justice. The role of divine justice in King Lear is complex, and it raises questions about the nature of justice itself. A successful king works in concert with nature, as Lear does until the moment he disinherits his youngest daughter. []. It has become familiar to millions through a diverse publishing program that includes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, school and college textbooks, business books, dictionaries and reference books, and academic journals. This idea is reinforced by the presence of the character Edgar, who disguises himself as Poor Tom and speaks in a way that suggests he is a messenger of the gods. He is also acting within the confines of natural law, with generosity of spirit and a willingness to share his life and country. Antonios sacrifice, then, is for an economic imperative, and as such, of a secular, not Christian, nature. Gloucesters careless nature causes Edmund to develop into the plays main antagonist, and ultimately being the cause of many deaths. What link is there between being a dog and having justice granted? Parent-Child Relationships: The Neglect of Natural Law. bookmarked pages associated with this title. It starts with the state of order and control and ends in meaningless disaster and chaos. Lear's view of nature is one that holds certain values, such as respect for one's parents and loyalty to one's king, to be important regardless of circumstance. 1619 Words. This act signals his ability to assume the role of king. Lear and Gloucester, on the other hand, suffer much more than other characters and even though their punishment surpasses their crime, justice is still served because they become moral and just people. (LogOut/ The consequences of injustice, and the relationship between justice and power, are also explored in depth, showing how these themes are still relevant to contemporary society. Remember: This is just a sample from a fellow student. Or is it of the turn the other cheek variety that Jesus exhorts in his Sermon on the Mount? Justice can be served by doing the fair thing but wouldnt be accepting your sins and dying as a good and insightful person even if you had to endure more. Learn to Use ChatGPT From Beginner to Expert (Click Here), Learn Here How To Manage Your Social Media with AI Automation (Click Here), Community College Transfer Students (Click Here). Open Document. No king should allow his army to be disbanded, and so Goneril and Regan's actions are certainly dangerous to the king. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the noun justice comes in several meanings, including: Theres something paradoxical about the definitions here. Although this is the greatest punishment of all, they did not have to work through their mistakes and therefore did not repent nor learn a single thing. The published journal is available in print and online. suggests a cheeky parallel between the court and the stage, which undercuts the traditional seriousness one would associate with the law, and invites one to consider if the law deserves the level of trust that most would invest in it, especially when it appears that rhetoric sometimes overrides truth in the determination of justice. Lear ultimately becomes a just person when he says, Poor naked wretches, wheresoeer you are,/ That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,/ How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides,/ Your looped and windowed raggedness, defend you/ From seasons such as these? The captivating character of Gloucester is explored by Shakespeare to confront the cruelty of justice in the Shakespearean world, using numerous dramatic and literary devices. Another character who has a unique interpretation of justice is Edmund. However, is justice served when some characters crimes and punishments are in equilibrium, while other characters punishments far surpass their crimes? And given Merchants clear antisemitic undertones, this discomfort is especially felt in a post-Holocaust world. For Shylock, whose worldview aligns with the Old Testament, he sees it his Old Testament God-given right to demand retributive justice, especially when his pound of flesh bond was agreed to by the opposite party, Antonio, in the first place. Unlike most of the characters in the play who are religiously influenced concerning the idea of justice, Edmund ridicules this in Act 1 Scene 2 exclaiming, Now, gods, stand up for bastards. The personal drama of King Lear revolves around the destruction of family relationships. By continuing well assume you board with our cookie policy. Part of its lesser popularity is due to the prevalent conception of the ideal poetic justice in which the poet is . How does Edmund trick Edgar? We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. And while Salanios characterisation of Shylock is one of mockery, his comment of Shylocks passion as one thats so strange is telling. In the subplot of the play, a nobleman loyal to King Lear named Gloucester gets deceived by his illegitimate son Edmund, who convinces his father that his legitimate son Edgar is trying to murder him. Overall, the different interpretations of justice in King Lear reveal the complexity and ambiguity of the concept, and how it can be manipulated and perverted for personal gain. He uses his illegitimate status as a way to gain sympathy and support, and he is able to turn others against his brother and father to gain control. King Lear is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare . It is surely ironic, then, that after Portias appeal to charity, she should deliver such a harsh, vindictive, pronouncement against Shylock. Lear not only endures severe punishments while alive, but his death can be seen as his final punishment. In conclusion, justice did prevail in the end and through the service of justice some characters are able to die as good and insightful people. King Lear is a play written by William Shakespeare, telling the tale of a king who bestows his power and land by dividing his realm amongst his three daughters, Cordelia, Regan, and Goneril. Why does King Lear change his mind about Cordelia? What dost thou say? and any corresponding bookmarks? These characters suffer through their punishments and even though they eventually die they die a better person unlike Cornwall, Goneril and Regan. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# William Shakespeares King Lear is a timeless classic that explores the complex themes of power, family, and justice. O, I have taen/ Too little care of this!(III.iv.28-33). Notably, King Lear was not always the ineffectual king represented in the middle and final acts of Shakespeare's play. In Act II, Curan's report of strife between Albany and Cornwall helps illustrate that Lear's division of his kingdom was a mistake (II.1.10). All of these events create a picture of King Lear as a poor model of kingship, one who reacts emotionally and without reason. There is a prominent emphasis on the question of whether there is moral righteousness in the world which would demand that every crime committed must have an equally appropriate punishment. King Lear inspires many philosophical questions; chief among them is the existence of divine justice. In addition, the audience hears that Kent will soon die, and the Fool has earlier disappeared, presumably to die. Shakespeares Twelfth Night: Theme of Love, Of Mice and Men: Crooks Character Analysis, A Dolls House: Torvald Helmer Character Analysis, Oliver Twist: Characters, Setting, Style, Audience and Diction, Themes in John Drydens All for Love (play), Antigone: Sibling Rivalry, Gender Inequality and Democracy. By the time Shakespeare was writing King Lear, the English had survived centuries of civil war and political upheaval. This would apply to the playgoers of Shakespeares time as well, so Jews back then werent so much thought of as actual people with flesh, blood (or indeed, to use Shylocks famous words, hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions), but as a vague, vilified stereotype in the cultural imagination. Edmund was remorseful on his death bed and even tried to save Cordelia which is proof that after being a witness to the chaos that unfolded he realizes his mistakes and tries to fix them. Edgar's victory, as well as his succession of Lear, as king of Britain, points to an intervention of divine justice. Gloucester has made several errors in judgment, as has Lear; but the brutal nature of Gloucester's blinding the plucking out of his eyes and the crushing of them under Cornwall's boots is surely in excess of any errors he might have made. Cornwall has been destroyed by his own honest servant; Edmund is killed by the brother he sought to usurp; both Goneril and Regan are dead, one murdered and the other a suicide; the obedient steward, Oswald, is dead, a victim of his own compulsion to obey. What was deemed just would have been based on Christian doctrine, and yet, between the Hebrew Old Testament and the Christian New Testament, views on what constitutes justice diverge radically. bookmarked pages associated with this title. The string of mercenary diction commodity, trade and profit highlights that Antonios identity is a merchant first, and a Christian second. The audience also learns that Gloucester has two sons. In conclusion, the role of justice in King Lear is a complex and multifaceted theme that shapes the trajectory of the plays plot and characters. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Even though many of the characters in Shakespeares tragedy are horrible people who deserve their punishments, there are also characters such as Lear and Gloucester who did not deserve the extent of their punishments. Reading Ishiguro & Nabokov to findout, Comparing love poetry (II): Reading Philip Larkin & Carol AnnDuffy, Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Justice in The Merchant of Venice: 3 key ideas (with quotes, analysis &video), What does Shakespeare show us about self-conscious men? William Shakespeare's tragic play, contains occurrences of justice faltering in the facade of evil. Moreover, his personal decline parallels a farther-reaching dissolution of order and justice in the British state. But Cordelia is young and blameless. King Lear Divine Justice Critical Essays Divine Justice King Lear inspires many philosophical questions; chief among them is the existence of divine justice. The deaths of Cornwall, Edmund, Regan, and Goneril have lulled the audience into a belief that the gods would restore order to this chaotic world. She is contrasted throughout the play with Goneril and Regan, who are neither honest nor loving, and who manipulate their father for their own ends. Having been indignant, bitter and blustering for most of the play, he is now reduced to a submissive husk, whose sole function is to echo the words of his Christian superiors, and to swallow consent where no consent is felt and no justice is given. Indeed, part of what makes this play disturbing is the seeming normalisation and at points, justification of racial prejudice, and most problematically, its all done in the name of the law. from your Reading List will also remove any Part of this was likely inspired by political events: in 1594, Elizabeth Is physician, an ethnically Jewish converso named Roderigo Lopez, was executed for having allegedly conspired to poison the Queen. Although King Lear is a play that was written over 400 years ago, its themes and messages are still relevant today. The theme of justice is explored through the complex character of King Lear, using various literary and dramatic techniques. A king has absolute authority and has no need to question natural law, and yet kings rule as God's representative on earth; thus their very position creates a reciprocal agreement between the monarchy and natural law. Toronto: Thomson Nelson, 2007. Edgar really steps forward when he challenges Edmund, revealing that he has the goodness and strength to defeat evil. It presents the dilemma of human relations and exposes the dark sides of human nature, such as infidelity and ungratefulness. She argues that merciful, not punitive, justice, is an attribute to God himself, but Portias God isnt Shylocks God, who is the wrathful Yahweh of Abraham, Lot, Sodom and Gomorrah, not the forgiving God of Jesus Christ. The audience's abject fear that a foreign king might weaken England (and a Catholic monarch made it worse) would have made Lear's actions seem even more irresponsible. Despite Shylocks awareness of the deep-rooted anti-Semitism in Venice, he seems to have absolute trust in the Venetian laws impartiality. A prominent example of this can be seen in Act 1 Scene 1 where Cordelia informs Lear that she has nothing to say regarding her love for him. This creates a non sequitur; while a colon normally functions to introduce supplementary and related information, the latter line here doesnt logically follow from the former. Similarly, the experiences of Gloucester, Edgar, and the other characters are shaped by their encounters with the justice system. The word 'justice' refers to the idea that we are fair and reasonable in our dealings with others. /When my dimensions are as well compact,/ My mind as generous, and my shape as true. The repetition of rhetorical questions allows Shakespeare to emphasise Edmunds anger towards the people that question him as a person due to his illegitimacy, which is ultimately the result Gloucesters act of adultery. He believes that justice and the law make foreigners want to do business in Venice, which relies on international trade and profit to thrive. The different interpretations of justice that are explored in King Lear, from the divine to the human, reveal the complexity and ambiguity of the concept. S-lock, even being hated and attacked has husbanded his along with his coreligionists. Ultimately, deadly conflict arises between Lear and his older daughters, and the long-standing competition between sisters creates conflict between ruling factions, further dividing the kingdom. A conversation between Kent, Gloucester, and Gloucester's son Edmund introduces the play's primary plot: The king is planning to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. 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