King Lear Literary Essay

Any people will put their own best interests aside for the sake of the greater good. Much of the time, these people are uncommon. Humans have multiple self-interests in life, and most of them choose to form bonds with those interests, making it impossible for them to prioritize spiritual acts over self-interest. It is difficult to find individuals who would quickly give up their self-interest for the greater benefit of humanity. Individuals assume it is possible to perform whatever behavior, positive or evil, to ensure their self-interests are manifested, even though it means bringing harm to others, as a result of these misguided priorities. In the play, King Lear by William Shakespeare, the proclamation of individual’s self-interest is demonstrated through the characters of the Kings daughters Goneril and Regan, who express their fake love to acquire their father’s wealth. However, the younger daughter Cordelia breaks the norms of self-interest by expressing her true feelings to her father without fear of her father’s expectations. Characters such as Cordelia, Gloucester, and Albany illustrate how they overcome their self-interest and reveal moral fortitude. Shakespeare suggests the sacrifice of self-interest for the greater good through sentiments of authority, loyalty, and love. Images of honesty, eyes, and letters help to convey this idea.

The theme of authority and power is well depicted in the play through the character of Lear, a king who had three daughters. During his old age, Lear opts to share his wealth and provide more to the daughter who expresses the most love for him. In (Act I), we see two of his daughters. Goneril and Regan demonstrating self-interest that makes them express fake love to win the heart of their father. Goneril states, “The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyesCordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; and like a sister am most loath to call; your faults as they are named. Use well our father: To your professed bosoms I commit him”So, farewell to you both” (I.i.79)

Both Goneril and Regan, exalted their mission of self-interest to win more wealth at the cost of dishonesty. However, Cordelia, revealed the motif of honesty, eyes and letters through expressing her true feelings to her father. In particular, she chose to be loyal and honest to her father despite her wish to receive a piece of her father’s wealth, she did not prioritize her self-interest but choose to be loyal and honest to her father.

Cordelia’s practice of honesty outweighed her self-interest, which unfortunately resulted in her losing her dowry. This is a rare character to find in most of the societal people, where a person can opt to express the truth regardless of the cost that truth bears. I am not sure what this sentence means, please reword. However, all was not lost when the King of France, who was in the midst of the scene, got attracted to the upright character of Cordelia and opted for a hand in marriage (Act I).

To the King of France,

“For you, great king, I would not from your love make such a stray”

Cordelia States;

“A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue

As I am glad I have not, though not to have it”

Kent states;

“I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter”.

King France states;

“The argument of your praise, balm of your age,Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time”

From this perspective, the fact that Cordelia oppressed her self-interest and chose to be honest was a moral act that brought her the reward of a hand in marriage from the King of France. This implies that embracing a moral fortitude is a positive attribute that may guarantee a reward in future.

Gloucester’s concern for King Lear develops the motif of eyes, honesty and letters and moral fortitude. Gloucester was a lord in the kingdom and second in command after King Lear. He had a deep concern for the safety of Lear, especially after learning the ill motives of the two deceitful daughters, who had grasped powers and wealth through their fake love. Gloucester, who also had issues with his sons, had a soft heart of giving in to the information that he was given. Falling into a similar trap with Lear, Gloucester encounters the challenge of identifying which of his children is honest (Act II).

“Now, Edmund, where's the villain”? (II)



Despite Gloucester’s self-interest to proclaim the kingship of the land, he chose to help Lear by warning him about the evil plans of his two daughters. He arrived back in Regan’s castle and heard the two sisters’ plan of murdering the king (Act III)

“That, when we have found the king,--in which your painthat way, I'll this,--he that first lights on him, Holla the other” (III.i)

If he had allowed this plan to progress, Gloucester would have illustrated his interest in taking over the throne since he was second in command after the king. However, he condemned his self-interest and revealed the secret about the daughters plan to kill the king. Gloucester became the eyes, honesty and letters and supported of Lear, who wanted to ensure that Lear’s evil daughters did not succeed in killing their father. Unfortunately, events did not go well since the person he told, his son Edmund, betrayed him by revealing the information to the sisters’ husbands, who popped out his eyes (Act III);

“Go to; say you nothing. There's a division betwixtthe dukes; and a worse matter than that: I havereceived a letter this night; 'tis dangerous to bespoken”; (III.ii)

“Though I die for it, as no less is threatened me,the king my old master must be relieved” (III.ii)



From the concept, we analyze that Gloucester overcomes his self-regard and opts to act morally by helping Lear. He chooses to stop an immoral action through his openness and protection of the king. Finding a character who can choose to forego his interest for the sake of another person’s safety, is rare. Gloucester’s reward approaches soon after he has lost his eyes, where he finally meets his son Edgar, whom he had disowned. Gloucester’s moral fortitude cost him his eyes. However, he meets his son, whom he did not recognize (Act III)

“All dark and comfortless. Where's my son Edmund?Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature”, (III.vi)

If he had not proclaimed the truth, he would not have lost his eyes, and he would have recognized his son, which could have resulted in different consequences. His son Edgar, who acted like a mad person, helped his father instead (Act III).

“Why, art thou mad, old fellow?” (III.vi)

The sentiment of fading love expressed by Albany develops an aspect of self-interest through the motif of letters.

“With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall; Who have--as who have not, that their great starsIntelligent of our state; what hath been seen” (III.iv)

Albany was the husband to Goneril and throughout their marriage, he comes to realize the actions of his wife are not remarkable. Albany originally married Goneril based on the interests of wealth and power that his wife had acquired from her father, Lear. However, Albany begins to grow out of the self-interest and realizes that the actions of his wife are not moral.

“Twixt Albany and Cornwall;Who have--as who have not, that their great starsThroned and set high?--servants, who seem no less” (III.iv)

His wife’s plan to kill her father King Lear and the mutilation of Gloucester turns him away from their marriage. On the other hand, Goneril also discovers that her husband Albany has become cowardly and begins to fall in love with Edmund.

Goneril sends Edmund to Regan, but after realizing her sister had lost his husband, she is concerned about her sister.

“Post speedily to my lord your husband; show himthis letter: the army of France is landed. Seekout the villain Gloucester” (III. vii)

Luckily, the letter, which was sent by Generil through Oswald, is received by Albany, who discovers her wife’s plans (Act IV).

From this concept, we analyze that Albany suppresses his self-regard retaining his wife’s power and wealth and opts to do the right thing by condemning his wife’s plans. Moral fortitude develops where Albany knows that separating from his wife means that she would be insecure, while at the same time risking his life and wealth. However, he decides to proclaim justice by advising the British army not to kill Lear and Cordelia. Albany made the right decision of secluding himself from the evil plans of Edmund and Goneril, and through his actions, he survives from a plot to kill him. If Albany had maintained his self-absorption of his wife’s wealth, he would have been blinded by the motif and would have been killed. Instead, Albany confronts his wife, Goneril with the letter, who commits suicide due to the guilt of her evil actions. In addition to Gonerils death, Edmund is attacked by Edgar, and dies a slow and painful death.

“Well thought on: take my sword; Give it the captain” (V)

Therefore, Albany’s moral action is critical since it saves the whole kingdom and proclaims the rightful justice by eliminating the evil doers.

In conclusion, the theme of self-interest manifests from various characters throughout play. In particular, characters would perform any immoral action to gain their desires. However, through the sentiments of authority, loyalty, and love, Shakespeare illustrates the motifs of honesty, eyes, and the letter, to display the broad moves that the characters took to embrace a moral fortitude. Through the actions of Cordelia, Gloucester, and Albany, we infer that overcoming self-interest for a moral good is important, but rather a rare action in society. People should ignore their self-interest and uphold integrity while focusing on doing what is right and morally acceptable in the society.

























Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of King Lear. Vol. 20. Cambridge University Press, 2005.