King Lear as a tragic hero

AC Bradley’s tragic hero 1) Is of high degree2) Suffers a catastrophe; that is, his downfall and ultimately death3) The catastrophe must be determined, at least in part, by his own fatal flaw4) Must be good or admirable
Aristotle’s tragic hero A literary character who makes a judgement error that inevitably leads to his or her own destruction
Oedipus’ tragic hero A great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat”
Lear asks his daughters to proclaim their love “Which of you shall say doth lovers most?”
Lear banishes Cordelia “Here I disclaim all my paternal care”
Kent is loyal, Lear must once have been good “My life I never held but as a pawn to wage against thy enemies”
Lear is not good 1) “Better thou hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better”2) “From her derogate body never spring a babe to honour her! If she must teem, create her child of spleen”
He suffers at the hands of Goneril “Old fools are babes again; and must be used with chequers as flatteries,- when they are seen abused”
He is locked out during a storm “Shut up your doors”
Lear begins to recognise his mistake “I did her wrong”
Lear is the suffering victim “A poor old man, as full of grief as age”
Hamartia a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine
Peripeteia A reversal of circumstances, or turning point
July 28, 2019