Elements of Good and Evil in King Lear
Elements of Good and Evil in King Lear
King Lear is one of the famous plays of Shakespeare. Its development of the plot, the mood and the character of Lear through the play made the audiences enjoy the play. The play cannot be successful without the contribution of the secondary characters. By looking at the development of the plot, the mood and the changes of character of Lear, it is obvious that Kent, the Fool and Cornwall play the important role in King Lear.
First, Kent, the Fool, and Cornwall are important to the development of the plots of King Lear. Kent and the Fool are the great advisers on Lear's side, but Cornwall is the evil throughout the play. Kent is the consistent characters that helps Lear whether Lear is in power or powerless, mad and died, which he shows the persistent loyalty to Lear throughout the play. The fool is playing with his coxcomb and offers it to Lear and Kent. He states Lear as a fool after the love test and division of the Kingdom. When Lear is mad, the Fool is beside Lear and comforts him, and tries to persuade Lear to go indoor, "O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is better than this rain-water out o' door." (Acts three, scene two, line ten.) The Fool disappears after Act three because Lear has reached the bottom of his suffering, which the Fool cannot do anything about it. Cornwall is a duke in England and a husband of Regan. He gives himself up completely to corruption and courtly intrigue. He publishes the messenger, Kent, because of a servant conflict when he sees Lear is no longer in power. He insults Kent in the purpose of showing Lear that Lear is no longer in power like the past that people will not respect him like before. When Cornwall knows from Edmund that Gloucester hold a letter and he helps the king, Cornwall is so angry because he feels Gloucester betray him. Cornwall arrests Gloucester and he decides to torture Gloucester instead of hang him. "Plunk out his eyes" (Act three, Scene seven, Line five.) He decides to torture Gloucester to show that this is the result of helping Lear, and he feels Gloucester is the biggest power in England that would help Lear.
Next, Kent, the fool and Cornwall are also important to the development of the mood through...