“Shakespeare’s chief concern in King Lear is to highlight the absurdity of life in a heartless
universe.” Examine this view of the play.
In ‘King Lear’ Shakespeare presents us with a heatless universe in which the absurdity of life
in emphasised through his depiction of the ‘nothing’-ness of humanity. While some may
apply an optimistic or Christian reading to this play, it may be viewed through a lens in which
the cruel and uncaring universe inflicts disproportionate suffering on the characters, causing
the play’s tragedy to occur. This pessimism may have been an expression of the trauma of
the recent plague which Shakespeare had seen ravage his city, killing indiscriminately.
In King Lear, the universe is presented as heartless, and even as a villain itself. In Act 4, Scene
1, upon seeing his blinded father, Edgar laments: “World, world, O world! But that thy
strange mutations make us hate thee, life would not yield to age.” The repetition of ‘world’
emphasises Edgar’s placement of the blame for his father’s condition on the universe rather
than on a mortal culprit. It also creates a sense of his emotional anguish, increasing the
audience’s sympathy with him. The use of this repetitive triplet is eerily echoed in the final
scene, through Lear’s reaction to the death of Cordelia: “Howl, howl, howl!”. This is another
case of an emotional outburst being caused by the unjust suffering of a character’s loved
one. In Lear’s case, he has lost the capability even for language, resorting to expressing
himself through an animalistic noise, while the more philosophical Edgar seeks to reprimand
the universe for its evil. Both the blinding of Gloucester and the death of Cordelia may be
seen as “strange mutations” or heartless actions of the universe Shakespeare has created,
which punish seemingly ‘good’ characters. Edgar’s statement may also be alluding to Lear’s
downfall. The suggestion of life “yield[ing] to age”, as well as directly referencing death, may
be suggesting the way the deterioration of the mind as age advances. Edgar suggests that
“hate[red]” of the world is what leads to the destruction which comes with age, so one may
therefore blame the madness and suffering of Lear’s old age on the cruel universe around
him. The 1590s play ‘King Lier’ which Shakespeare drew inspiration from ended much more
happily, with Cordelia surviving and Leir being restored to the throne; however, through
depicting the deaths of both Lear and Cordelia, Shakespeare refuses to allow this hope of
balance being restored. This ending is perhaps reflective of the change in succession which
Shakespeare had recently lived through, where the Scottish king, who had once himself
been Duke of Albany, had taken the crown. Therefore, the shred of hope which he provides
through Albany’s promise for justice may itself have been merely a way of placating the King,
who saw the play six times, while his true message was one of a desire for social upheaval.
This is supported by Marxist readings such as that of A. Kettle, who reads the play as
exploring the clash between the hierarchical values of the feudal era and the rise of
competitive individualism (seen in the characters of Edmund, Goneril and Regan). This play
was originally performed on the day of St. Stephen in 1606 at the court of King James – a day
which traditionally came with liturgical lessons encouraging charity and empathy towards
the poor. This supports the view that the play was intended as a powerful indictment of the
social conditions of the era in which it was written. One may argue that this was among
Shakespeare’s primary concerns when considering the impact of his play. Though it
undeniably does present an absurd and uncaring world, this reading of the play suggests
universe.” Examine this view of the play.
In ‘King Lear’ Shakespeare presents us with a heatless universe in which the absurdity of life
in emphasised through his depiction of the ‘nothing’-ness of humanity. While some may
apply an optimistic or Christian reading to this play, it may be viewed through a lens in which
the cruel and uncaring universe inflicts disproportionate suffering on the characters, causing
the play’s tragedy to occur. This pessimism may have been an expression of the trauma of
the recent plague which Shakespeare had seen ravage his city, killing indiscriminately.
In King Lear, the universe is presented as heartless, and even as a villain itself. In Act 4, Scene
1, upon seeing his blinded father, Edgar laments: “World, world, O world! But that thy
strange mutations make us hate thee, life would not yield to age.” The repetition of ‘world’
emphasises Edgar’s placement of the blame for his father’s condition on the universe rather
than on a mortal culprit. It also creates a sense of his emotional anguish, increasing the
audience’s sympathy with him. The use of this repetitive triplet is eerily echoed in the final
scene, through Lear’s reaction to the death of Cordelia: “Howl, howl, howl!”. This is another
case of an emotional outburst being caused by the unjust suffering of a character’s loved
one. In Lear’s case, he has lost the capability even for language, resorting to expressing
himself through an animalistic noise, while the more philosophical Edgar seeks to reprimand
the universe for its evil. Both the blinding of Gloucester and the death of Cordelia may be
seen as “strange mutations” or heartless actions of the universe Shakespeare has created,
which punish seemingly ‘good’ characters. Edgar’s statement may also be alluding to Lear’s
downfall. The suggestion of life “yield[ing] to age”, as well as directly referencing death, may
be suggesting the way the deterioration of the mind as age advances. Edgar suggests that
“hate[red]” of the world is what leads to the destruction which comes with age, so one may
therefore blame the madness and suffering of Lear’s old age on the cruel universe around
him. The 1590s play ‘King Lier’ which Shakespeare drew inspiration from ended much more
happily, with Cordelia surviving and Leir being restored to the throne; however, through
depicting the deaths of both Lear and Cordelia, Shakespeare refuses to allow this hope of
balance being restored. This ending is perhaps reflective of the change in succession which
Shakespeare had recently lived through, where the Scottish king, who had once himself
been Duke of Albany, had taken the crown. Therefore, the shred of hope which he provides
through Albany’s promise for justice may itself have been merely a way of placating the King,
who saw the play six times, while his true message was one of a desire for social upheaval.
This is supported by Marxist readings such as that of A. Kettle, who reads the play as
exploring the clash between the hierarchical values of the feudal era and the rise of
competitive individualism (seen in the characters of Edmund, Goneril and Regan). This play
was originally performed on the day of St. Stephen in 1606 at the court of King James – a day
which traditionally came with liturgical lessons encouraging charity and empathy towards
the poor. This supports the view that the play was intended as a powerful indictment of the
social conditions of the era in which it was written. One may argue that this was among
Shakespeare’s primary concerns when considering the impact of his play. Though it
undeniably does present an absurd and uncaring world, this reading of the play suggests
