Lear exhibits Royal Attributes when he is a Madman Not when he is King
In the play King Lear, Lear descends from the position as King of Britain, to that of a distraught madman. ... As a powerful king, Lear is self-centered, irrational, and irresponsible. Falling into madness, Lear becomes insightful, wise, and compassionate. Lear displays more kingly attributes when he is a madman, than when he is a king. While in power, Lear fails to exhibit the characteristics of a ruler. In Act I, Lear divides his land with the ˇ§fast intent to shake all cares and business from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths, while we unburthend crawl toward death.ˇ¨ (I, i, 37-40) His one condition is that he will ˇ§retain the name, and all the additions to a kingˇ¨ (I, i, 134-135) Lear immediately reveals himself as an irresponsible, self-centered man as he withdraws himself from the responsibilities of a king, yet wants to retain the title, respect and superiority that comes with the role as king. Learˇ¦s ˇ§hideous rashnessˇ¨ (I, i, 150) is seen when he banishes his beloved daughter, Cordelia who was unable to speak ˇ§that glib and oily art,ˇ¨ (I, i, 224) to flatter her father. Due to his arrogance, Lear becomes vulnerable to the flatteries put forth by the elder daughters, and refuses to accept the plain truth spoken by Cordelia. Learˇ¦s reckless, self-centered, arrogant and ridiculous behavior fails him as a king.