LEAR
... x Lear is a father and a king, and after giving away his kingdom and Edmund begins accession, kingdom descends into civil strife - Lear destroyed all authority in Britain. x Failure of authority in the face of chaos - reflected in storm scene, Lear realises that he is insignificant in the world - compels him to reprioritise his values. Reconciliation x The play presents the central relationship (Lear and Cordelia) as a dramatic embodiment of true, self-sacrificing love. x Lear recognizes error of his ways, and his maturation enables him to bring Cordelia back into his good graces, a testament to loves ability to flourish, even if only fleetingly, amid the horror and chaos that engulf the rest of the play. Motifs: Madness x The fool offers Lear insight through seemingly mad babble. ... x Also shows awesome power of nature - Lear recognizes own mortality/human frailty x Shows natures anger at kingdom and symbolizes political disarray Blindness x Gloucesters physical blindness = metaphorical blindness of Lear and Gloucester x Both have been blind in their parallel situations and have been punished for being so. Characters King Lear: Protagonist, does not respond well to being contradicted or challenged.