King Lear - Book Report/Review Example

The play deviates from the original source material to incorporate an important subplot involving the illegal son of Gloucester, Edmund, who takes opportunity to discredit his brother Edgar and betray his father. However, the most essential innovation Shakespeare made to the original story has been the death of Cordelia and Lear at the end of the play which makes it a real tragedy of high esteem. A profound analysis of the major characters in the play confirms that the renowned playwright has been asserting the fact that the human nature is either entirely good, or entirely evil.

In the play, some major characters including the protagonist experience a transformative phase which results in a profound change in their nature though some trial or ordeal. In a reflective analysis of the principal characters of the play, it also becomes evident that they are not characters who act, but those who suffer. "We have not in this, as in most tragedies, the picture of a calamity in which the sudden blows of fate seem still to honor the head which they strike, and where the loss is always accompanied by some flattering consolation in the memory of the former possession; but a fall from the highest elevation into the deepest abyss of misery, where humanity is stripped of all external and internal advantages, and given up a prey to naked helplessness.

" (Bates, 39) Therefore, the play King Lear deals with an important dreadful story of the tragic hero who made a vital error in judgment with regard to the loyalty of his daughters, and the play celebrates success with its themes, characterization, plot, subplot, action etc. In his tragedy King Lear, Shakespeare develops essential themes which determine the entire effect of the tragedy on the audience, and the main themes include deception, greed, cruelty, and error in judgment. Deception is a major theme which has contributed to the tragic elements in the play and two elder daughters of the king express at the opening scene of the play how polished words can represent deception.

Thus, Goneril, the eldest-born, deceives the father by words and her actions in the course of the play prove her true nature. "Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; / Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty; / Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; / No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour; / As much as child e'er loved, or father found; / A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; / Beyond all manner of so much I love you." (Shakespeare, Act I, Scene i, lines 56-62) The development of action, plot and characterization in the play proves how the words of Goneril turn out to be best example of deception whereas the youngest daughter Cordelia realizes that she is unable to show her love with mere words, but proves by her following actions.

"What shall Cordelia speak Love, / and be silent." (Shakespeare, Act I, scene i, lines 63-64) The various declarations of love in the play prove the saying 'Actions speak louder than words' and when the actions begin to speak in the play the deceptions and true love of various characters are reveled. Thus, the playwright celebrates different types of human nature represented by the different characters in the play. Whereas the nature