King Lear, Act I: Love and Consequence

holds for his father creates a vulnerability that Edmund plays on, as does Edgar's affection and trust of Edmund. In each of the three examples of love, the hurt party does not suspect the harsh consequences of their love. They put their faith in things turning out right, only to find that Fortune has other plans. Their love will prove an important quality however, as their hardships are not over, particularly in the case of Edgar.

Love in King Lear is present, let there be no mistake about that. Though a tragedy, and full of ugliness and cruelty, there is love. And that love is as much a part of the play as the plots, secret deals, and hidden ambitions. In fact, the love in Lear is part of what makes the cruelty so clear, for it gives us something to contrast it with. It gives us hope, and makes us wish for a happier ending, though we know that such wishes cannot and won't be fulfilled.

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Shakespeare, William. "King Lear." (Conflated Text.) The Norton Shakespeare. Stephen Greenblatt. ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1996. 2479-2553.

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