King Lear Essay Help

[brittanygarden]

Hello,

I am doing booklets for the Independant Learning Center courses.
I am very confused with King Lear and wish for some help.
It is the final exam question.. and if someone has done these booklets, or even if you have any advice to give me based on the question below it'd be much apprecitated!

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Essay question:

The bible warns that "A house divided against itself cannot stand"
(Mark 3:25)

In a well - written essay, discuss how this quotation applies to King Lear.

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Thank-You,
Brittany.

[Ian G]

Originally Posted by brittanygarden

The bible warns that "A house divided against itself cannot stand" (Mark 3:25)

Lear disowns his angelic daughter, Cordelia: Gloucester his dutiful son, Edgar. The two fathers pay dearly for poor judgement - with desolation and, finally, with death. By the end of the play, Lear and Gloucester can judge better but, as Edgar says, 'the Gods are just' and punish a man's foolishness remorselessly.

[xman]

Lear turns on Cordelia, Goneril and Regan turn on Lear before turning on each other. That's a pretty fractured house and they're all dead at the end of the play. I think I've got that right.

X

[Ian G]

Originally Posted by xman

That's a pretty fractured house and they're all dead at the end of the play.

Edgar did well to survive?

[dedalus]

From the very start of the play, by the nature which Lear tests his daughter. is just asking to "divide" his house. Slicing up the pie by arguing who loves you most is going to lead to in-fighting. Lear made it a contest amongst his daughters and therefore put them against each other. One wouldn't need the Good Book to see this coming.
And Gloucester didn't do much better, as Ian G mentioned.

[Ian G]

Originally Posted by dedalus

From the very start of the play, by the nature [of] which Lear tests his daughter. is just asking to "divide" his house. Slicing up the pie by arguing who loves you most is going to lead to in-fighting. Lear made it a contest amongst his daughters and therefore put them against each other.

I think otherwise.

Cordelia becomes involved in 'a contest' only because King Lear is dispossessed. Goneril and Regan contest with each other only when eligible Edmund happens to rise to prominence. Lear's quest for his daughters' flattery in the division had no impact on either event.

[Theaprof]

Originally Posted by brittanygarden

Hello,

I am doing booklets for the Independant Learning Center courses.
I am very confused with King Lear and wish for some help.
It is the final exam question.. and if someone has done these booklets, or even if you have any advice to give me based on the question below it'd be much apprecitated!

----------------

Essay question:

The bible warns that "A house divided against itself cannot stand"
(Mark 3:25)

In a well - written essay, discuss how this quotation applies to King Lear.

-----------------

Thank-You,
Brittany.

Hi Brittany,

It is customary to captialize the names of sacred books. Thus, "the Bible," rather than, "the bible."

You know, the thing about this question that interests me is not what it asks, but it doesn't ask. For example, "In what way is the tyrannical monotheism of the Bible reflected in the brutish selfishness of Lear?"

[xman]

Originally Posted by Theaprof

It is customary to captialize the names of sacred books. Thus, "the Bible," rather than, "the bible."

So, the Folio then.

[dedalus]

Originally Posted by Ian G

I think otherwise.

Cordelia becomes involved in 'a contest' only because King Lear is dispossessed. Goneril and Regan contest with each other only when eligible Edmund happens to rise to prominence. Lear's quest for his daughters' flattery in the division had no impact on either event.

Well, how is saying "She who loves me most will get the most" not making it a contest from the start? And this sort of rivalry from the start of the play could perhaps be tied to G&R's contest later on when they see the chance at more riches (or power). Perhaps this sort of atmosphere was common in Lear's household, who knows?

And just the fact that Cordelia wouldn't "play along" itself was scorned by G&R as well. I just argue the divided house began with Lear's unusual will.