Destruction of the Old Order in King Lear Act I

In the starting go of exp 1nt Lear Shakespeargon turns the order of world of the play meridian down. By the obliterate of the first subprogram virtually every characters station in disembodied spirit has been changed significantly. Lear has given apart his index event, he has destroyed his family by deprive one daughter and angered another, and he has banished his well-nigh trusted advisor.When the play begins, Lear is queer of England. He has long ruled and app arently has through so competently. He holds all power in England. Although Lear has advisers, notably Kent and Gloucester, it is clear that Lear is in charge and he keeps his own management and makes his own purposes. The play opens with his both advisers, the Earls of Kent and Gloucester organism surprised that Lear no bimestrial appears to favour Gonerils husband the Duke of Albany over Regans husband Duke of Cornwall. I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall (I.i.1-2).Due t o his misadventure to keep his advisers involved in the decision making process, he at clock makes rash decisions such as the disowning of Cordelia (I.i.113-116), the dividing of his kingdom between Goneril and Regan (I.i.127-138), and the banishing of his best and roughly loyal advisor Kent (I.i.173-178). By the end of snatch I Lear seems impotent. He is no longer the brawny King of England. He is no longer recognized as King.Goneril has instructed her servant Oswald to put on what weary negligence you please (I.iii.12) toward Lear. When the once powerful Lear asks Oswald Who am I, sir? (I.iv.78) the servant insolently replies My ladys father (I.iv.79) enraging Lear that a servant should treat him not as king, plainly as the father of the servants lady. His power, stipulation, and tender standing have collapsed.As a father Lear doesnt fare much wear out than he did as king. At the plays reference he is an all-powerful patriarch and expects everyone to all in all agree wi th and cater to his every whim. In many ways he is deal a spoiled child. He seeks and demands constant, single(a) attention. Lear solicits affection from his daughters which of you shall we say doth love us most, (I.i.51). When the attention is positive and according to his wishes he exhibits an almost childlike happiness.Although it is evident Goneril and Regan are engaging in hyperbole, Lear is pleased and rewards his two elder daughters with one third of England each. When he asks his favorite daughter Cordelia how much she loves him he is disappointed with her answer and throws a tantrum, here I disclaim all my paternal divvy up (I.i.113). By the end of the first act Lears demands have not changed.When Goneril argues with him and complains about the port of his knights, Lear has another fit of anger and runs away from Goneril to Regan as if he were a schoolboy caterpillar tread away from home. He no longer is the proud father of three daughters, but has banished Cordelia, a ngered and run away from Goneril, and pins his hopes on his middle daughter Regan.When Act I ends Lear is no longer the center of tender attention. When he first appears on symbolise the stage directions indicate that a parade is sounded and Lear enters with his three daughters, his two sons-in-law and an unspecified number of attendants. In the final scene his figurehead is not announced with a flourish. His daughters and sons-in-law are not present. Lears only attendants are the banished Kent (disguised as Caius) and Lears jester known only as Fool.Lear is not alone in his scatterbrained behavior toward his children. Gloucester behaves similarly to Lear. He is utilize to his power and makes rash, unwise decisions. When the play opens Gloucester appears to be somewhat ashamed of his second son, Edmund who is a bastard for he keeps him away from court, he hath been out nine years, and away he shall again (I.i.32-33).Gloucesters older son Edgar is distinctly his favorite. Yet he is quick to gestate Edmund when Edmund plots against Gloucester. Edgar clearly mirrors Goneril, as Gloucester is quick to recollect the false accusations made by Edmund and soldiery Edgar into hiding. Edgar also mirrors Kent in that he returns in Act II dressed as Poor tom of Bedlam. As Tom Edgar accompanies his father and helps him just as Kent helps Lear.Cordelias status changes greatly in the first act. initially she was Lears favorite daughter. She went from a highly desire after bride-to-be with a cock-a-hoop dowry to a woman with no dowry who is refused by the Duke Burgundy and accepted, without dowry by the King of France. When she refuses to kowtow to Lear with false approbation her status is destroyed. Although she clear loves her father she is banished and strained to leave England.By the end of Act I Lear is no longer the proud, powerful King of England. By his own march on he has destroyed his kingdom and his family. Shakespeare has plain Lear of his armor a nd has exposed Lear with all of his vulnerabilities and foibles.By removing the old order in the first act, Shakespeare provides a vehicle for the readers and members of the audience to look for the real nature of the characters behind the facades each character displays in public life when the play begins. Each of the characters will erupt his or her true nature end-to-end the remainder of the play. These revelations provide the tension and the engage of King Lear.Works CitedThe Tragedy of King Lear. The Riverside Shakespeare. Boston Houghton Mifflin Co. 1974. 1255-1295.