Imperfect Traits In King Lear By William Shakespeare

Sometimes imperfect traits can make for a unique king like the king in Shakespeare’s tragedy, “King Lear”. His traits make him an interesting king and father whom tends to want things to go his way. Throughout the first act, king lear has many events of overreaction and selfishness. King Lear in Act 1 is egotistical and stubborn in order to show his control over a situation. King Lear in Act 1 is seen as being egotistical when he demonstrates multiple times his need to manipulate a situation to his favor. In the first part of the act, he forces his daughters to pronounce their love to him in order to acquire their inheritance and maintain their dowry. “Which of you shall we say doth love us most,/ that our largest bounty may extend/Where

He is like a school bully in the way he trips, smacks, and insults others. Lear self glorifies himself when he regulates a situation to his favor. Thou but remembrest me of mine own conception. I have perceived a most faint neglect of late,/ which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous unkindness (I.iv.67-70) Even when Lear mentions this, he goes on later to physically hurt others for his own humor. He does not feel regret towards his past actions, he thinks he is right, and does not feel the need to change his actions/ words either. When a disguised Kent comes to work for him, he puts him through many test questions and trials to determine if he is worthy enough to serve him. King Lear is stuck in an egotistical path which he will probably never

Lear makes good on his words such as his promises of land and the withdrawal of land. Also when he puts his mind to something, he necessarily does not give up. King Lear says, “Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again” (I.i.99) He gives her a chance to at least to change her mind to benefit her future. On a similar note, he often tries to persuade people to his point of view, and he does not understand if they do not agree. Being stubborn also caused his repetitive asking for the fool who then gave him life advice.His stubbornness can also can be attributed to age. When a person grows older, they will develop loss of self and logic. Which explains his refusal to give up on little dilemmas until they choose his way of