King Lear justice quotes

Earthly Divine Social

Three types of Justice

the ‘love trial’ scene is flawed and undermines Lear’s integrity as the monarch, as he quantifies love and reduces the stability of the kingdom to mere flattery, leading to tragic consequences.

“which of you shall we say doth love us most”

Justice is embedded into the social structure and the audience is met with an In-just system where those who try to uphold just ideas are banished and ultimately punished

“see better Lear”

“freedom lives hence and banishment is here”

Blinding Gloucester is an appalling example of human injustice, as Shakespeare depicts a scene full of the raw cruelty of man - Cornwall and Regan pervert the law to satisfy their own craving for revenge Act 5.3

"though well we may not pass upon his life without the form of justice, yet our power shall do a curtsey to our wrath"

Gloucester pays severely for his adultery Act 5.3 Arguably Gloucester does not deserve the extreme torture inflicted upon him, that the punishment outweighs the crime, yet some in Elizabethan times believed blinding was the appropriate punishment for adultery.

"the dark and vicious place where thee he got cost him his eyes" - Edgar to Edmund

Lear pays for his sins but the extent of his suffering is possibly undue as a joyous reunion takes place

"we two alone will sing like birds i'th'cage"

The glimmer of hope provided in Lear and Cordelia's reunion is dashed Lear re-enters carrying Cordelia's dead body, wailing

“Howl Howl Howl oh ye are men of stones”

Lear points out the perverted injustices of human nature following Cordelia's death

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, and thou no breath at all?

Kent's view of society is dark and indicates there is no justice

"All's cheerless, dark and deadly"

Gonerill and Regan are destroyed by their jealous lust, perhaps their end is deserved. Edmund's remark indicates the stark brutality and reality of their deaths Act 5.3

"the one the other poisoned for my sake, and after slew herself"

Edgar's challenging Edmund to a duel, and consequent death of his malicious brother, does seem justified given the extent of his crimes against the natural order throughout the play

"draw thy sword, that if my speech offend a noble heart thy arm may do thee justice"

Shakespeare presents the unjust characters as victims of injustice, Edmund is mistreated from the start of the play

“whoreson”

Edmund's malicious intentions (evident in his soliloquy) are justified when his unfair, illegitimate treatment is considered. He demonstrates an almost admirable conviction and passion that exposes the injustices of a society that marginalises him for reasons beyond his control

"Wherefore base? When my dimensions are as well compact my mind as generous and my shape as true as any honest madam's issue"

Susan Bruce indicates Edmund's malevolent character is justified

"we sympathise with Edmund's sense of injustice"

In what moments does Lear recognise the state of social injustice throughout the land?

Anagnorisis occurs in the storm as Lear is confronted with his failings as a King

Lear reflects on his growing humility and identification with the plight those in poverty

"poor naked wretches"

Lear is confronted with his failings as a king, he sees an opportunity to vocalise his despair at mistreatment of society Act 3.4

"Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel" and exclaims "O I have ta'en too little care of this".

Why do some critics argue Lear's anagnorisis is ineffective?

Lear is unable to act upon his realisation that society is corrupt as it's too late

Lear reinforces the notion of corrupt society with assertion that anyone in power will be obeyed and he mocks all those (including himself) who presume to rule and judge others; connotations of dog = barking brutality Act 4.5

"a dog's obeyed in office"

What does Shakespeare appear to doubt in his presentation of justice?

The omnipotence of the gods and of authority in general as the Gods, despite being constantly called upon, never answer

Lear calls on the gods to punish Gonerill and Regan, this is a change from commanding and assertive declarations of the gods' power in Act 1 to desperate pleading Act 2.4

"O heavens! If you do love old men...make it your cause; send down and take my part”

Greatest injustice of all occurs in Act 5.3 and the structural placement of the catastrophe destroys any positive statement made about the justice of the gods - directly after Albany's line requesting heavenly protection of Cordelia, Lear enters carrying Cordelia's dead body

“the Gods defend her”

Gloucester assess the Gods as they seem sadistic, treating life with such insignificance and cruelty - there is no sense of justice and only room for suffering

"as flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; they kill us for their sport"

Kermode suggests the extent of tragedy and complete lack of justice forces us to deal with problems of guilt, fate and helplessness

"by upsetting the ordinary balance of our expectations, is finding something out for us, something real"

What does Savvas say about divine justice?

“King Lear begins with human.blindness and folly and ends with the iniquity and mis judgment of fate