In Genealogy of Morality, Nietzsche argues that there is a distinction between the morality of the nobles and the slaves who are powerless, low-minded, and common compared to the nobles. Nietzsche states that the noble, powerful, higher-ranking, and high-minded felt and ranked themselves and their doings as good (Nietzsche p.10). This suggests that nobles are cheerful, simple and clean. They don't care about the opinions of other people and believe that everything they do is right and just. In contrast, people with the slave morality are usually powerless and weaker compared to the nobles. The slaves know about being silent, not forgetting, waiting, belittling oneself for the moment, and humbling oneself (Nietzsche p.20), which indicates that they resent and hate the status and power of the nobles. The negative thoughts and resentments become a creative force for revenge. We can also apply these two concepts to King Lear's characters, Lear and Cordelia, who fit noble morality. By contrast, Goneril and Regan fit in the idea of slave morality. .
Cordelia is one of the few genuinely principled people in King Lear. Compared with her two sisters, she is a saint. Regan and Goneril flatter their father and then throw him out of the house once they have his money. Cordelia on the other hand, refuses to make a big public deal about her love for Lear and easily forgives her father when Lear comes to his senses. Cordelia's honesty and integrity contrast with her sister's selfish insincerity. In the play Cordelia shows the traits of a character with noble morality: "Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave/ My heart into my mouth. I love you majesty/ According to my bond, no more nor less." (King Lear 1.1.91-93). She is unable to heave her heart into her mouth. Even though her two sisters already demonstrate how to win Lear's heart, she didn't go along with it. She insists on her own honesty. "Why have my sisters husbands if they say/ They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,/ That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry/ Half my love with him, half my care and duty.
The tempest in Act III influences the character King Lear significantly. ... (King Lear P.105). ... But he does blame his "two pernicious daughters"(King Lear P.107) for their betrayal. ... (King Lear P.109). ... He then states "I have one part in my heart / That's sorry yet for thee" (King Lear P.109). ...
Significance of the Subplot in King Lear In an attempt to universalize the travesties endured by the protagonist and tragic hero, Shakespeare incorporates a significant subplot into King Lear. Although the focus clearly lies on the tragic plight of King Lear, the secondary plot involving Gloucester and his offspring mirrors and dramatizes Lear's hopeless situation. ... I love your majesty/According to my bond, no more nor less" (William Shakespeare, King Lear [New York: Penguin Books, 1999, Act I, scene i, lines 91-93.] ... In an effective attempt to universalize King Lear's dil...
This wouldn't fit in with the description of King Lear though. King Lear is said to be in his eighty's. ... If I were King Lear, I would have believed them both. ... King Lear cries and presents his final speech in a solemn tone. ... Regardless, King Lear is still powerful and affects us all. ...
Analysis of "King Lear" Many literary techniques are used to emphasize the theme of the Shakespearean play "King Lear." ... In King Lear, the techniques of imagery, foreshadowing, and irony help to reinforce the drama's theme that people are blind to the truth. ... The fool was trying to tell King Lear that there was trouble amongst his daughters. ... I was king, but I gave away my kingdom. ... They know that Goneril and Reagan will betray Lear, but Lear is not yet aware of this fact. ...
King Lear (1604) deals with the consequences and misjudgments of Lear. ... Lear respondedNothing! ... One where two evil daughters help banish a good daughter in a love test by King Lear. ... In his old age King Lear had divided his kingdom between his daughters, Goneril and Regan, who professed great love for him but then harassed him into madness. ... King Lear died over her body....
King Lear (1604) deals with the consequences and misjudgments of Lear. ... Lear respondedNothing! ... One where two evil daughters help banishes a good daughter in a love test by King Lear. ... In his old age King Lear had divided his kingdom between his daughters, Goneril and Regan, who professed great love for him but then harassed him into madness. ... King Lear died over her body....
King Lear is not only a story of the trials and tribulations of the parent-child relationship, but also one of love, hate, honor and betrayal. ... Among many more lines, King Lear presents the notion of natural law, that man is ordained by the stars as to what and how he will be, and that is our destiny to be what we are. ... A thief can be nothing but a thief, and king none other than a king. ... What is interesting about King Lear is the parallel plot of Lear and his daughters and Gloucester and his sons. ... Once a royal king, now a sick-minded wanderer, he flees into a storm. ...
This especially becomes evident upon the betrayal of King Lear. ... King Lear compares his daughter's attack with the sting of a snake with its tongue. ... The female's morality is developed and their actions are foreshadowed in the opening act, with their reaction to the request of flattering King Lear. ... Cordelia is loyal to both the King Lear and the King of France. ... Shakespeare's King Lear evidently displays his own view of woman, which is often contradictory to the realistic image of a woman. ...
When writing King Lear, William Shakespeare focused much of his attention towards both the good and evil aspects of different characters and their relationships with one another. ... Among these lines follows King Lear's greatst mistake: it was when he put statements, which were intended to affirm their true loves for their father. ... As a reaction twards his daughter's honest response, Lear cast her away, exclaiming. ... It's obvious to the reader that she cherishes her father more so than her sisters, but she can't express her love in the way in which King Lear wants ...
