Thoughts on King Lear -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 18:12:41 01/28/08 Mon
Author: Kiernan
Subject: Thoughts on King Lear

Some thoughts on "King Lear" that began in class....

It seems that there are several rivalries presented in the text (well, they are probably numerous, but here are a few). First, Regan and Goneril are obviously competing with each other. And then Regan and Goneril, as a unit, compete with Cordelia. This obviously extends to their husbands, especially politically, and causes the civil war in the text.

But what is the role of Lear in this? He seems to also be involved in cycles of rivalry - one with Regan and Goneril, one with Cordelia. And his desire to know who loves him best seems to be playing on the rivalries inherent in his daughters' relationships in order to satisfy his own rivalries with them. This is an idea I haven't quite parsed out yet, but it seems that the conflict over kingship in the play would be a key to this. Lear wants to hand the role of king over to the daughter who loves him most - i.e., who is most like him. However, as soon as he gives over his kingship to his daughters, he begins to compete with them to keep his role as king, especially in the matter of his knights, etc.

Many lines seem to evince this connection, but these from 2.4.220 make it especially clear:

I will not trouble thee, my child. Farewell.
We'll no more meet, no more see one another.
But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter -
Or rather a disease that's in my flesh,
Which I must needs call mine.

What a clear exposition of the intimate connection between model and imitator!

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Replies:

Re: Thoughts on King Lear -- CS Holden, 14:28:47 01/30/08 Wed
- Re: Thoughts on King Lear -- JD, 18:01:23 01/31/08 Thu