king lear images of the unutterable and the failure to communicate
TRANSCRIPT
King LearKing Lear
Images of the unutterable Images of the unutterable and the failure to and the failure to
communicatecommunicate
'See Better Lear''See Better Lear' Act 1 initiates the theme of blindness and sightAct 1 initiates the theme of blindness and sight Lear's blindness is that of self-deception and Lear's blindness is that of self-deception and
moral mis-judgementmoral mis-judgement acts of deception and evil intention are aided by acts of deception and evil intention are aided by
their linguistic counterparts: their linguistic counterparts: letter of treason feigned by edmundletter of treason feigned by edmund orders for lear and cordelia's hanging on paperorders for lear and cordelia's hanging on paper letter of infidelity from Goneril to Edmundletter of infidelity from Goneril to Edmund
In all cases the letters lead to death.In all cases the letters lead to death. Violence is contained within the language as an Violence is contained within the language as an
agent of torture (CF Elaine Scarry The Body in agent of torture (CF Elaine Scarry The Body in Pain)Pain)
Thankless childThankless child
the severance of natural bonds the severance of natural bonds betweenbetween bloodtiesbloodties state and populacestate and populace
Causes in natureCauses in nature reciprocationreciprocation
The Five WitsThe Five Wits
MadnessMadness BlindnessBlindness DeafnessDeafness Isolation Isolation SilenceSilence
ForgivnessForgivness
disbeliefdisbelief revengerevenge actionaction prayerprayer mutual respectmutual respect
This great stage of foolsThis great stage of fools
play actingplay acting invocationinvocation self-pityself-pity NatureNature The GodsThe Gods
'He hath ever but slenderly 'He hath ever but slenderly known himself 'known himself '
understandingunderstanding relationships and bondsrelationships and bonds duty duty acceptanceacceptance irrationalityirrationality
supplicationsupplication
the 'awaking' scene in Act IV: Lear the 'awaking' scene in Act IV: Lear follows Cordelia in making bow of follows Cordelia in making bow of supplicationsupplication
its importance in Homer (Iliad) and its importance in Homer (Iliad) and Virgil (Aeneid), forerunners of tragic Virgil (Aeneid), forerunners of tragic modemode acceptance of common fate/fellow human acceptance of common fate/fellow human
being, participating in the same human being, participating in the same human conditions-part of a universal conditions-part of a universal suffering.Therefore recognition occurs.suffering.Therefore recognition occurs.
thy elements belowthy elements below
repression of emotions that repression of emotions that compress rational mind (numerous compress rational mind (numerous attempts to prevent insanity)attempts to prevent insanity)
issues of what is correct behaviour issues of what is correct behaviour forfor women and men women and men King and subjectsKing and subjects human being and human being and
animal/beggar/madmananimal/beggar/madman
LearLear MacbethMacbeth the kingdom the kingdom
already in disarrayalready in disarray children usurping children usurping
parentsparents madness from lack madness from lack
of actionof action torturous acts on torturous acts on
stagestage irreparable irreparable
kingdomkingdom
the kingdom stablethe kingdom stable parents/elders parents/elders
killing childrenkilling children madness from a madness from a
consequential path consequential path of actionof action
agents to carry out agents to carry out torturous actstorturous acts
ill kingdom with ill kingdom with potential for potential for recoveryrecovery
Tragic ImplicationsTragic Implications human interaction breaks down into human interaction breaks down into
purely selfish means and endspurely selfish means and ends lack of compassion, sympathy, lack of compassion, sympathy,
understanding and recognitionunderstanding and recognition lack of causes for actions-why good or lack of causes for actions-why good or
evil? no explanations for innate propertiesevil? no explanations for innate properties Cannot fully comprehend own action until Cannot fully comprehend own action until
it had led to self-destruction it had led to self-destruction
in the case of a king this affects the entire in the case of a king this affects the entire kingdomkingdom
Reason and needReason and need
basic human need -a need to basic human need -a need to comunicate and consequently to be comunicate and consequently to be understoodunderstood
cannot reason a need for evilcannot reason a need for evil
The Wheel is come full The Wheel is come full circlecircle
aptness of actions to complete their aptness of actions to complete their coursecourse
evil eventually consumes itselfevil eventually consumes itself
Fate, Will and the GodsFate, Will and the Gods
All the characters at some point All the characters at some point invoke the gods as some point of invoke the gods as some point of reference for an arbitrary justice reference for an arbitrary justice system beyond the realm of human system beyond the realm of human existence.existence.