In Shakespeare’s play King Lear, the main character, King Lear, is presented as a respected and powerful king. As the story progresses the king loses his power because of his own stupidity and blindness. The tragedy of this play is shown chiefly through the actions of Lear’s daughters, which lead to Lear’s bout with insanity, and through the words of the Fool.
At the beginning of the play, King Lear appears as a powerful and well-loved ruler. He explains his intention to abdicate and divide his kingdom among his three daughters, giving the largest segment to the daughter who convinces him that she loves him most (Boyce 343). Goneril is the first to lie,
Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter; / Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; / No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor;
As much as child e’er loved, or father found; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable.
Beyond all manner of so much I love you. (I.i.56-63)
Regan is the next to exaggerate her love,
I am made / Of that same metal as my sister
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart / I find she names my very deed of love,
Only she comes too short, that I profess / Myself an enemy to all other joys
Which the most precious square of sense possesses, / And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear Highness’ love. (I.i.72-80)
Finally, Cordelia speaks only the truth when she says, “ Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave / My heart into my mouth. I l…
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…cted and powerful king to that of a regular man who, at times, seems to have no family. This takes him to the brink of despair and, at least, temporary insanity until he is rescued by his friend whom he had banished and his daughter whom he had disinherited. Not only is it a tragedy that Lear and Cordelia die at the end of the play, but also that so much pain and suffering was endured before a Fool enabled Lear to see that he had tragically misjudged the most important people in his life. The people he had rejected were the ones who truly loved him and tried to protect him; the people he treated so well were the ones from whom he needed to be protected. This error in judgment cost him everything.
Works Cited
Boyce, Charles. Shakespeare A to Z. New York: Roundtable Press, 1990.
Shakespeare, William. King Lear. New York: Washington Square Press, 1957.
Welcome, You’ve Got a Brave New World
Welcome, You’ve Got a Brave New World
The task of predicting the future is difficult at best, yet Huxley’s predictions of the future have proven to be eerily accurate in several areas. Many of Huxley’s predictions are being realized today, have already been realized or will be realized in a few short years. These specific predictions, which are closely related to today are our sexual practices, an obsession with youth and beauty, the minimal role of parents and the practice of religion.
In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World people treat sex as a form of entertainment rather than an expression of love between a couple. Most forms of entertainment in Brave New World somehow relate to sex. For example the feelies are pornographic movies with a more advanced plot line and the tremendous bonus of experiencing the same things as the actors on the screen. The government encourages sex and promiscuity among its citizens, if a person is not promiscuous they are seen as outcasts. Sex in Brave New World is not a private matter and is openly practiced. To ensure that sex’s purpose is for entertainment the government makes only thirty percent of the female population fertile. This ensures that the population will not view sex as a form of reproduction because the majority are not capable of sexual reproduction. The more partners a person has the more popular the person is.
A person is discouraged from having a long-term relationship with one person. If they have a long term relationship their loyalty to the government and Ford is in question, as evidenced in the following excerpt: “And you know how strongly the DHC objects to anything intense or long and drawn out. Four months of Henry Foster without having another man – why, he’d be furious if he knew”(page #) One night-stands are common and expected.
Sex is discussed openly in Brave New World. It is not seen as dirty, shameful or something to be discussed behind closed doors. From a young age children learn about sex and contraceptives. Children are forced to use contraceptives every time they have sex. They are encouraged to participate in sex play from a young age. Those who do not wish to participate are taken to a psychologist for an evaluation.
Religion in Brave New World is also linked to sex.