King LearMacbeth misc
The act of creating and developing a character called characterization not only establishes a character, but serves as a means for the author to reveal the themes of the play. "A literary character is the invention of the author, and often inventions are indebted to prior inven-tions"(Kirsch 236). Therefore, through characterization many common themes repeat with in an author's literary col-lection. Shakespeare is the inventor of many characters and throughout his plays themes often reappear. Macbeth and King Lear, two of Shakespeare's tragedies, exemplify this technique. The protagonists of these two plays, Mac-beth and King Lear, by means of their actions, thoughts and words reveal a theme to the audience. Shakespeare has many portraits of madness among his characters, and he returns to the theme again and again. Indirect characterization in the form of Lear's mad speeches allows Shakespeare to convey the theme of madness. For example one of Lear's first speeches after wit begin to turn, "Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm, How shall your house-hold heads and unfed sides,Your loop'd and window'd rag-gedness, defend you..."(III.iv.35-38).
Duncan is Macbeth's king and lord, he trusts him to be a faithful servant; by murdering him he not only betrays this trust but also the code of honor to his lord. Shakespeare uses the characterization of Macbeth and Lear to reveal the themes of the plays. He characterizes a madness driven by the guilt that he feels from committing murders. I never gave you kingdom, called you children"(III. No worse act of evil could well be found. One critic explains the cause of Lear's madness, "It is the agony of the learning that exposes Lear as an old, rejected man which forces him over the brink of madness"(Stuart 172). The finally pushes him over the edge was the cruel actions afflicted on him by the people that supposedly loved him.
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Acceptance Essays
