He described King Lear as a "pure tragedy". Aristotle outlined tragedy as having certain characteristics, each of which relate to King Lear. .
First of all there is a tragic hero of high status, who is noble but eventually undone by character flaw- hamartia.
Secondly, there must be an anagnorisis- self realisation where the main protagonist suffers but results in catharsis (cleansing of emotions) in order to gain respect from the audience.
The structure according to Aristotle must begin in state of order leading to a disorder.
The conclusion of the play must restore order through redemption of the protagonist. This is when Lear is finally reunited with Cordelia and asks for her forgiveness in the final scene of the play.
The order is obtained as the nation is now ruled by the three noble, loyal characters of the play- Albany, Kent and the new found King, Edgar, setting the nation into orderliness and initially Lear earns respect from the audience before he dies, leaving the final mood optimistic. So if the play is a tragedy, then it must have a direct link to redemption.
Kelly brought up the question, "is King Lear a tragedy or disaster?" To which he stated:.
"If the play is seen as exemplifying the mindless, haphazard cruelty of a godless universe, it is indeed a drama of disaster. But if it exemplifies choice and responsibility, it is a tragedy in disaster the force comes from beyond our control, whereas tragedy assigns responsibility to the protagonist for the unhappy fate of the self or of others.".
This distinction takes us back to the first scene of the play, when, according to Gloucester in Act 1, Scene 2, Lear "falls from bias of nature". If we see this "bias" as a fatal mistake, then from the very beginning Lear is largely a victim of circumstances that he does not understand and cannot control. .
When Lear cries "why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life / And thou no breath at all?" in Act 5, Scene 3, he is crying out that he has paid for HIS wrongful choice- proving its belonging to a tragedy, not disaster! .
