Susan Snyder feels that “heroic extension largely depends on the tragic events” and one in troubles and turmoil embarks on the journey of heroic deeds and accomplishments. “Oedipus becomes wiser in his searching and suffering than was the confident ruler who opened the play. Macbeth in his agony of conscience and his full experience of despair has explored more of the human condition than the admired military man whom we first meet.” (Susan Snyder, King Lear and the Psychology of Dying) King Lear is rescued and forgiven by the rejected Cordelia who is not regarded for her virtues and frankness. The loss of humanism in the plot is summed up in the words of Par Albany: “It will come, / Humanity must perforce prey upon itself,/Like monsters of
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The play makes us think “Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts?” (Act III.vi 77-79) Cordelia is one among the innocent victims who were killed for no fault of theirs like Opehlia or Desdemona and Lear is a “man more sinned against than sinning.” Lear’s exclamation, “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is/To have a thankless child!/Away, away!”(King Lear Act I. Scene iv, 287-288) may be weighed under the indignation and misjudgment that he suffered and in the backdrop of “Rancorous malignity” of Regan and Goneril. William Hazlitt says that “the third act of Othello and the three first acts of Lear are Shakespeare’s master pieces in the logic of passion.” Iago’s villainy, his persistent manipulations in turning Othello blind to truth and honesty, the telling effect of revenge are seen in “The Moor already changes with my poison.” (Othello Act III, Scene. 373) Othello cries before he kills himself, “Whip me, Ye devils,/… roast in sulphur/Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire” (Act V, ii. 280-83) are suggestive of his anticipatory punishment for his unnatural deed.
Charles Lamb’s argument “Lear is essentially impossible to be represented on a stage” holds good to all the Shakespearean plays that deal with strong feelings, ebb and flows of emotions, moral verities, and agitating passions. Whether the promised end …show more content…
. . / And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?” (Hamlet Act II, Scene ii. 303-307) Shakespeare sounds to be more philosophic. This bears a parallelism to “Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow/ Creeps in this petty pace…Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury./Signifying nothing.- (Macbeth Act V, v.19-28) in striking a pessimistic note. The “damn’d spot” of Lady Macbeth’s hands is symbolic of the eternal condemnation on the part of humanism. Lady Macbeth worries that Macbeth’s nature “too-full o’th’ milk of human kindness” is being relegated and she is determined to transform him. The guilt of murder is apparent when lady Macbeth utters, “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand./ Oh! oh! Oh! (Act V, i.
The play makes us think “Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts?” (Act III.vi 77-79) Cordelia is one among the innocent victims who were killed for no fault of theirs like Opehlia or Desdemona and Lear is a “man more sinned against than sinning.” Lear’s exclamation, “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is/To have a thankless child!/Away, away!”(King Lear Act I. Scene iv, 287-288) may be weighed under the indignation and misjudgment that he suffered and in the backdrop of “Rancorous malignity” of Regan and Goneril. William Hazlitt says that “the third act of Othello and the three first acts of Lear are Shakespeare’s master pieces in the logic of passion.” Iago’s villainy, his persistent manipulations in turning Othello blind to truth and honesty, the telling effect of revenge are seen in “The Moor already changes with my poison.” (Othello Act III, Scene. 373) Othello cries before he kills himself, “Whip me, Ye devils,/… roast in sulphur/Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire” (Act V, ii. 280-83) are suggestive of his anticipatory punishment for his unnatural deed.
Charles Lamb’s argument “Lear is essentially impossible to be represented on a stage” holds good to all the Shakespearean plays that deal with strong feelings, ebb and flows of emotions, moral verities, and agitating passions. Whether the promised end …show more content…
. . / And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?” (Hamlet Act II, Scene ii. 303-307) Shakespeare sounds to be more philosophic. This bears a parallelism to “Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow/ Creeps in this petty pace…Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury./Signifying nothing.- (Macbeth Act V, v.19-28) in striking a pessimistic note. The “damn’d spot” of Lady Macbeth’s hands is symbolic of the eternal condemnation on the part of humanism. Lady Macbeth worries that Macbeth’s nature “too-full o’th’ milk of human kindness” is being relegated and she is determined to transform him. The guilt of murder is apparent when lady Macbeth utters, “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand./ Oh! oh! Oh! (Act V, i.