King Lear and Existentialism - Essay Example

es many aspects such as our birth and our existence in the world, realization of human bondage, and the experience of elementary emotions such as fear, love and hate and the feeling of anguish. Shakespeare’s King Lear deals with the existence in its barest sense and is forced to become accustomed to that existence. Thus in King Lear the tragic story of a king is depicted who totally fails in his judgment. The daughters whom he thought they loved him forsaken him and taken away his kingdom and his power.

And the daughter who genuinely loved him and cared him was banished by him. The fool is real sense a wise and sensible character and he knows the absurdity of the universe. He is also aware of the king’s ignorance towards his existence. The fool also knows that there is no concept of justice in the absurd universe. When Lear is appealing God that the cruel disloyal and un-virtuous people may be punished the fool knows that there is no use of this appealing. The king is appealing this in his anxiety.

The presence of Edgar and the fool is rather a medium for Lear’s progression. Lear is suffering from complete loneliness and isolation as he is abandoned by love and cosseted from all emotions. As far as existentialism is concerned it can be said that Lear existentialism is different at the beginning and at the end. In the beginning when he is having all the might and authority he gets pleasure from the flattery by the villainous characters and at that time he is proud of his existence. He is the matter of respect for everybody.

He is praised by everybody. But he is shocked when his pride is shattered by his loyal and faithful daughter Cordelia. Of course Cordelia is honest and trying to bring him out of the illusion. When Lear asks Cordelia how much she loves him and Cordelia in contrast to the flattery done by her elder sisters, she answers, According to my bond; no more nor less.” (Act I, Scene i) This answer is an insult for the supreme monarch of