Free King Lear Essays: The Unaccommodated Man :: free essay writer

The Unaccommodated Man in King Lear In William Shakespeares King Lear, betrayal is a common import that leads to the crepuscule of some of the characters.  In todays society, there are two main billets that are generally taken towards these fallen individuals or unaccommodated men.  The first attitude is more of a pessimistic, judgmental attitude.  This attitude puts the majority of the blame on the individuals themselves.  The individuals are portrayed as being responsible either due to ignorance or laziness, and it is thought that the individuals got themselves into their divest situation and they can also find their way out.  The second view is more optimistic and is usually more merciful and accepting.  People taking this post generally would take pity on the individuals thinking that their unfortunate situation was due to a simple case of bad luck, or that these individuals were taken service of or betrayed by others ultimately leaving them acc ommodated.  In King Lear, the characters Lear, Gloucester, and Edgar were all betrayed by family members leading to their unaccommodated lives.  Once again you can take the pessimistic, judgmental attitude or the optimistic, merciful attitude.  When applied to the characters in King Lear, I choose to take the optimistic, merciful attitude. King Lear was betrayed by his two daughters Goneril and Regan.  King Lear wanted to transmit his land according to the amount of love that this daughters had for him.  Granted this was an illogical method, his intentions were not to destruct the family and himself.  He was also very harsh to Cordelia, but the ultimate event that took place to leave him unaccommodated was the betrayal by Goneril and Regan.  Lear put his trust in the wrong people, and it ended up placing him in a horrible situation.  Now Lear did not make the smartest decisions, but what wrong did he commit in trusting his two daughters who professed their love for him to provide for his basic needs.  How sharper than a serpents tooth it is to have a thankless child. ( I, iv,57).   Lear voices his frustration with not being able to trust his own family members. Gloucesters downfall was also a case of betrayal.  His illegitimate son, Edmond, betrayed him into thinking that Edgar, his legitimate son, was plotting against him.  integrity might say that Gloucester was ignorant in believing Edmond, and that he was illogical in not confronting Edgar.