Good vs. Evil in King Lear Essay

Life will always bestow us with choices which we must wisely choose both a moral or immoral response to. Shakespeare exemplifies goodness and wickedness in King Lear. The play presents a powerful manifestation of truth, specifically through with(predicate) the characters Kent, Edgar, and Cordelia.Kents unrestricted loyalty to Lear remains stable throughout the play. He recognizes Lears tragic flaw and remains faithful, even after being banished. His dependability is further divulged when he attacks Oswald, Gonerils loyal servant. Kents defensive actions result in him being placed in the stocks. This sacrifice adds to his loyal attitude of act the Kings well-being and safety. Oswald is loyal to Goneril, and acts well as a contrasting character to Kent.They both share the attribute of loyalty however Oswalds loyalty is based on immoral decisions, while Kents is not. Following Lears death, Kent foreshadows that he too will pass on, reuniting himself with Lear. Furthermore, Edgar is betrayed by his evil, manipulative brother, and he is forced to disappear. Edgars goodness is displayed when he treats Gluocester with kindness, regardless of his fathers misjudgment.In addition, Edgar gives his father strength by saving his life making him commit a deity has saved him from jumping off a cliff. This renaissance causes Gluocester to think and act more wisely in future endeavors. Edgar and Kents worship and loyalty are not affected by their mistreatment provided by their superiors, which ultimately verifies them as accurate symbols of good.Cordelia is an exemplar for true virtue in her acts of forgiveness and loyalty towards her father. Lear, distressed by his beloved daughters response of nothing to his love test, banishes Cordelia and denies her any land and power. Lear turning his back on Cordelia foretells destruction, since she is one of the barely people in Lears life that is loyal and expresss genuine feelings towards him. Furthermore, she foreshadows her d eath by returning to the kingdom to the aid of her father. She understands the dangers of returning, but in spite of these dangers she continues to emanate loyalty.Shakespeare delivers the existence of suffering through the presence of good and evil. Through Kent, Edgar, and Cordelia, Shakespeare has made it apparent that evil is unavoidable, yet virtue, loyalty, and forgiveness is rooted to everyone. It takes certain individuals to lay down the courage and power to be able to express these moral characteristics.