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Treachery In Shakespeare's King Lear

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William Shakespeare’s King Lear is a play full of deception, treachery, and insincere promises. King Lear is a tragic play that demonstrates the outcome of when children are concealed by greed and loose their love and respect for their parents. Treachery is the base concept of this whole play and it portrays how wickedness and insincerity can deteriorate even the firmest empires such as that of King Lear. In the beginning acts of the play Lear is deceived by the false praise of his daughters who are hungry for his wealth and power. Lear’s clouded judgment results in him placing his trust in Goneril and Regan. Lear is oblivious of the fact that Cordelia is the only one amongst his daughters who is truly sincere to him. Similarly, Gloucester …show more content…

Goneril and Regan both betray King Lear, once the kingdom is theirs they want to get rid of Lear. Goneril says to Regan “Pray you let's hit together. If out father carries authority with such disposition as he bears, this surrender of his will but offend us.” (1.1.332-334). Later on, King Lear betrayed his own beloved daughter Cordelia. He said “With my two daughters dowers digest the third; Let pride which she calls plainness, marry her” (1.1.136-137). Here he decides that, because Cordelia won’t proclaim her love for him, she doesn’t love him at all. But in reality, she can’t foster her love into words. In his rage, he revokes Cordelia’s dowry and gives it to her sisters. Similar problems are being faced with Gloucester’s family between his two sons. Edmund, the illegitimate son, betrays Edgar in the anticipation that he will get his father's wealth, power, and land. Edmund then forges a letter and shows it to Gloucester which explains Edgar wanting to kill his own father. Edmund also cuts himself with his sword and convinces Gloucester that he was defending himself against someone that wanted to have him murdered. Gloucester says to Edmund after he hears the news, “o strange and fastened villain! Would he deny his letter, said he? I never got him”

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