King Lear | Contrast in Character in The Tragedy of King Lear
In this essay, R. Moore explores in-depth the various characters in the play, and how their human qualities and moral values compare among each other.
King Lear is one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies, but it is also a carefully constructed arrangement of deliberately contrasting characters and human qualities; these contrasting elements make the tragic outcomes inevitable and heighten the emotional involvement of the reader, or playgoer, in what might otherwise be seen as a story that depends upon coincidence and misunderstandings to the point where credibility could be undermined.
The most obvious contrasts in moral character are among the younger people of the play. Cordelia, in her true love for her father, which at the...
[The entire page is 2176 words long]
Join eNotes
The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:
Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...
Navigate
See Also:
- - Read the King Lear text online.
- - For teachers, the King Lear Lesson Plan.
- - King Lear summary and study guide in the eNotes.
Tell a friend about King Lear at eNotes.
- Add King Lear to your favorites