The Search For Self Through The Eyes Of A Madman Essay

The Search for Self Through the Eyes of a Madman In the play King Lear, written by William Shakespeare (2000), the main character King Lear only comes to true realization of his relationships, self, and society after he is driven to madness. His comfortable life as king is quickly replaced with a fight for his identity after rash decisions lead him to be controlled by the evil forces that he put into power. Despite his fall to madness, he gains the ability to see himself and the society he lives in through clearer eyes. Lear only faces his true self due to his blinded relationship with his daughters, his senility in old age, and his death of power in the violent storm. Lear places more importance in the simple, shallow appearances than the underlying truths when making decisions for himself and others. His madness begins to surface at the opening of the play with his inability to look past outer appearances, leading to rash decision making and reinforcing his tragic fate. A quick decision to divide the kingdom amongst his three daughters is the first indicator of Lear’s fall to madness which is inspired by the realization of his aging body. Using his daughters as puppets to boost his already large ego, he insists that his daughters must use flattery through fancy speech to prove their love for him in order to inherit their share of the kingdom. Goneril and Regan, the two oldest daughters, are quick to use fancy words to prove their love for their father. â€Å"As much as childShow MoreRelated Symbolism and Irony in The Tell-Tale Heart Essay2249 Words   |  9 Pagesthe old man is motiveless, and unconnected with passion or profit (212). But in a deeper sense, the murder does have a purpose: to ensure that the narrator does not have to endure the haunting of the Evil Eye any longer. To a madman, this is as good of a reason as any; in the mind of a madman, reason does not always win out over emotion. Edward H. 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