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To what extent has your personal response to The Tragedy of King Lear been shaped by the enduring power of Shakespeare’s characterisation of King Lear?

Support your evaluation with a close analysis of TWO key extracts from King Lear.


Much of the essence of Shakespeare’s compelling tragedy, The Tragedy of King Lear is generated through the characterisation of its central character; King Lear.
The Tragedy of King Lear is a play which concerns itself with trials of humanity, questions of morality and the flaws and frailty of man. As such, it lends itself to a great array of critiques, its themes having a great relevance to any generation. It is Shakespeare’s sculpting of King Lear’s character that defines the play, which generates a deep sense of connection in the audience which has propelled the play; successful from the time of its conception through to the modern day.
Two extracts in which the effect of Lear’s characterisation is demonstrated with particular vindication is that in which Lear is confronted by his two daughters, Goneril and Regan, regarding his impetuous behaviour, ( Act 2 Scene 4) and the closing scene in which Lear is reconciled with Cordelia and the Kingdom is restored to a relative state of order (Act 5 Scene 3).


In the time of the plays conception, theatrical productions often conformed to the structure of an Aristotelian tragedy. Such theatrical productions can most easily be distinguished by the presence of a fatal flaw, which causes the downfall of an otherwise noble character and a general progression from order to chaos. In such a tragedy the audience also looked for certain traits; characters of consequence were generally those of nobility, characters of superior morality were evident, contrasting with the antagonist, and a chorus who provides moral direction and insight into the situation.
As the first extract begins, King Lear’s character is already...