ENGL 220 Lecture Notes - Edgar The Peaceful, Poetic Justice, Existentialism
Document Summary
King lear reflected era in which it was written. Indirectly explored the issues of the day: had to be wary of criticizing because they were funded by the monarch king"s men . Shakespeare wrote king lear 2 years after james was crowned james wanted to unite. Scotland and england as one great britain to restore ancient title and unity to the land: king lear dramatized what would happen in the kingdom was divided (instead of unified, appears conservative, but underlying subversion. King lear wants to retain the powers of being king the credit, he doesn"t want to give up his knights: act 2 scene 4: In this scene he goes mad from not knowing who he is anymore. In his madness, he becomes wise and learns a lesson of human condition: questions his identity, if not king, who is he, act 4 scene 7: i am a very foolish fond old man. Gloucester parallel to lear: goes blind.
