King Lear and Evil

Evil and King Lear

In Lear, most of the characters and actions in the story are evil. The evil that is created throughout the story is greater than the good that happens in it. Although it was Lears fault that he gave all his land away, it was both Goneril and Regan who decided to turn against their father and take his land. What kind of person is evil and corrupt enough to turn against their own family? What makes them do this? Is there any logic in doing this? I feel that Lear had what was coming to him, even though it is family, he gave away all of his land to both of his daughters. There was no further use of the father. Parents are there to support the kids and show them lessons and how to live by themselves. When Lear had nothing left to give his daughters they ditched him. They had to sever the chords so they ignored him and treated him poorly. When there is a sure outcome people may act in corrupt or evil ways. After Goneril and Regan obtained everything from their father, there was no further use of him so they ignored him and treated him badly. I see a pattern where the sons or daughters who were treated badly or lower than another sibling turned on their parents. Cordelia was prized above Goneril and Regan and Edgar was looked upon better by his father than Edmund the bastard was. The sons and daughters who were looked down upon ended up turning against their parents and other siblings. Another part of evil is corruption and deception. In King Lear, there is a lot of deception that moves the play forward. Both Goneril and Regan are deceptive and use their womanhood to seduce men and obtain power, they also use it to make the men think that they are JUST women while they are actually power hungry war lords. Edmund also deceives his father when he tells him Edgar wants to kill him and take his land, making Edgar run away and look like a criminal. A parent is there to support and give opportunities to their kids did Goneril and Regan do the right thing or at least primal thing? When there was nothing left in that person they moved on to greener pastures. In that place in time it was hard for a women to obtain power without a man but Goneril and Regan did it themselves so you have to give them some kind of respect. Nevertheless both sisters end up turning on each other over Edmund the bastard, evil turns on evil. Although Edmund seems like he is evil at the end of the play he admits to having ordered Cordelia’s death. His change of heart which is rare in Shakespearean villains makes you wonder whether his evil was caused by societies outlook on him and other bastards.