This document provides a summary of Shakespeare's play King Lear in 3 sections. It begins with background on the story and Shakespeare's sources. It then examines themes in the play around nature, order vs chaos, and the question of whether suffering can be redeemed. Finally, it analyzes psychological levels of characters, the roles of good and evil, and how chaos results from division but love can create meaning. The play is seen to illustrate that while the universe may be uncaring, human virtue, loyalty, and love can make life meaningful.

1.  Shakespeare’s
King Lear

2. A. Background on the story
1. Pre Christian King of good reputation –
-- source was probably Holinshed’s Chronicles, a
source Shakespeare used for many of his plays
2. An earlier version of the play
(King Leir, 1605 anon.)
3. Shakespeare’s changes
(Gloucester subplot, final deaths)

3. A. Nature (the four levels)
1. God and Perfection (above
the stars)
2. Higher Nature but imperfect
civiliz., conscious. Morality)
3. Lower Nature (amoral, bestial,
animal (reason w/o
conscience))
4. Evil – realm of the demons

4. 2. Order vs. Chaos -- the question of Justice
a. Lear (and we) learn that
--life is awful
--there is not always a
happy ending
--there’s nothing we can
do about it
b. Job’s question: why do
bad things happen
to good people

5. a. Can anything redeem this injustice / violence /
suffering / meaninglessness of the world?
1. wisdom – this is the great gift of time and
suffering (Lear finds wisdom when
sees truth
and stops valuing
superficial (he seems
mad but is wise
the new Fool
2. Lear’s journey
Prideragesuffering/humiliationmadnesswisdomdeath

6. 3. the real answer is goodness and honesty are
rewards in themselves – that is what redeems/
justifies life
Stoicism – be good (beauty and grace); not one
of “the many” (R and G)—choosing virtue may
bring suffering but it is still better than
being one of
“the many”
--Jesus and the
adulterous
woman
--the meaning of virtue
(morality and the gods
come together

7. For example: Cordelia
Cordelia chooses not to participate
in a ridiculous and dishonest
spectacle—this was not a flimsy
decision when you realize what love
means to Cordelia honesty
duty
loyalty

8. 3. Good vs. Evil
Good (the moral) is directly
related to love, compassion,
the soul
Evil (the immoral) is directly
realted to selfishness, the
id, violence, the physical

9. The Higher World
Lear
Cordelia
Kent
Albany
The Fool
Edgar
The Lower World
Goneril
Regan
Edmund
Cornwall
Oswald

10. 4. Loyalty vs. Blind Obedience
Kent Oswald
Cordelia Goneril / Regan
The Fool Edmund (no honor)

11. 5. Chaos and the Uncaring Universe
a. Chaos results from DIVISION (the kingdom,
families, brothers, sisters, etc.)
b. King Lear as precursor to existentialism
“There is, therefore, no preexistent spiritual realm, no
soul…,no cosmic compassion for or interest in human
life, no afterlife, no transcendence of worldly existence,
no cosmic meta-narrative, no angels and devils…, no
divine will, no preset destiny, no inevitable fate.”

12. Chaos and the Uncaring Universe
In a sense Edmund is right—there are no stars to guide us.
The play shows there to be no intrinsic meaning in the
universe.
However, humans and human
consciousness, human virtue,
human loyalty, and human love
create a meaningful and caring
universe.

13. Psychological Levels
Kent Cordelia the Fool
(reason) (love) (wits, intell., wisdom)
Lear
Gloucester
Edgar Edmund
(good) (evil)

14. The Evil Side
Cornwall – Goneril Regan – Albany
Edmund
Oswald the guard who follows
Edmund’s order to
kill Lear and Cordelia

15. 1. The Storm
2. Blindness and
sight
3. The Fool

16. 4. Nothingness
5. Nakedness and clothing

17. The Vision and Wisdom of King Lear
1. The Psychological
2. The Social
3. The Universal