Freedom of Choice in Shakespeares King Lear :: Essays on King Lear

Humans, like all creatures on the earth, have the privilege of the freedom of choice. There argon two broad ranges of factors that affect the decisions a person makes. The first factor that affects decision making is internal and includes a persons character and intellect. The second factor is outside(a) such as environment and interaction with other people. Naturally, each decision a person makes results in a repercussion of some degree, usually any helpful or hindering, and r arely inconsequential. The concept of justice is based on the fact that decisions are always followed by consequences. It strictly adheres to the rewarding of good industrial plant and the punishment of evil. King Lear, a play by William Shakespeare, is a grave tragedy that is a prime example of the Elizabethan conception of justice. Lears kingdom turns to funny house because of a break in the Great cosmic string of world and restores to order when justice prevails. Its tragic labelling stems from the prevalence of death the just punishment for many of its characters. The deaths of Lear, Goneril, and Edmund are prime examples of justice prevailing for evil, and in Lears case unnatural, acts. Lears ultimate fate is death. His early demise is a direct result of breaching the Great Chain of Being which states that no mortal will abandon his position in the hierarchy of ranking set by God. Lears intention of abdicating his throne is apparent from the outset and is seen in the following speech spoken during the opening scene of the play . . . tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age, Conferring them on younger strengths while we take crawl toward death. . .1 Evidently the splitting of Lears kingdom and abdication of his throne is not an act of necessity, but an act toward easing the remainder of his life. Lears disruption of the Great Chain of Being is in an unnatural fashion because the abdication of his kingship is without dire or mortal cause. The m ethod of passing down his land to his heirs is also unnatural, as seen in the following excerpts . . . Know that we have divided In three our kingdom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .