Shakespeare & The Missing Moral
"O sir, to willful men the injuries that they themselves procure must be their schoolmasters."
“O sir, to willful men the injuries that they themselves procure must be their schoolmasters.” — King Lear, Act II, Scene 4, Lines 346-48.
Who’s ready for Shakespeare’s funniest play?!? April Fools, this play is bleak. IMO, his second-bleakest play after Timon of Athens. This play is so devastating that people in the early modern period re-wrote it to have a happier ending (they actually did this to a lot of his plays). Unfortunately, humor is a bit hard to come by in this play, so instead we’ll settle for wry.
Shakespeare’s King Lear is possibly his take on the morality plays he probably saw in his youth. The morality play is a form of play where the human protagonist is confronted with characters named for vices or virtue such as greed, lust, justice, etc. They were meant to encourage people to behave morally. Many of us probably read The Everyman in school, which is an example. So yes, terrible things happened to the protagonist, but, in the end, he learned a valuable lesson.
There are echoes of morality plays in King Lear. The controlling father demanding absolute fealty from his daughters loses all control and their love. His bestie who cannot see through the manipulations of his son Edmund ends up blinded. But unlike the morality plays of old, there is no satisfying moral lesson that makes the journey worth it.
Only devastation.
In fact, even the few characters alive at the end of the play don’t so much prevail as withstand.
And with that warning in mind, let’s dive in.
The Shake-Scene
The play opens not with King Lear but with the Earl of Gloucester. Gloucester has two sons, one conceived in wedlock and one out of wedlock. And so, at the beginning of this would-be morality play, Gloucester divulges this “vice” of impregnating a woman who was not his wife and asks the Earl of Kent “Do you smell a fault?” And Kent responds, “I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.” Meaning, Edmund is such a proper young man, surely his conception could not be wrong.
If only they knew…
But more on that later. For now, enter King Lear. He arrives with his daughters, sons-in-law, and members of court. This is a big moment. He’s about to divide his kingdom among his daughters, retire, and ride off into a life of leisure. And lest this not seem dramatic enough, he’s decided to make this announcement the same day he chooses among suitors for his youngest daughter’s hand in marriage.
This is a powerful man exerting his power for all to see. And that’s not all. He has a large map rolled out and gathers his daughters. He then asks which daughter loves him the most so that he can give her the largest piece of land. Goneril — his eldest — goes first. She waxes poetic about how she loves him more than all else. Next, the middle daughter Regan says ditto and a little more. Then comes Cordelia.
Cordelia loves her father. But to her, loves is more than empty words. It’s action. So when Lear asks for her to flatter commensurate with her sisters, her answer is a single word:
Nothing.
Lear is enraged. “Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.” Cordelia explains herself. She loves her father as a daughter should. She will love her husband above him because that’s her duty. Which does not sit well with Lear’s ego.
There’s that shadow of virtue and vice again.
He disinherits her. She was his favorite. He’d planned to live out his days with her. Instead, he splits her share among her sisters and tells her suiters she has no dowry. The Earl of Kent pleas with Lear to reconsider, and so he’s banished. Thankfully, the King France agrees to marry Cordelia even without her dowry saying “Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon.”
As Cordelia says goodbye to her sisters, she fears leaving their father in their care. Once she leaves, her sisters express concern about Lear’s poor judgment at casting out their sister. Regan gives us one of the few hints of what Lear was like before this moment — “Yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself.” Even before Cordelia’s disinheritance, Lear was not swimming in emotional intelligence.
Meanwhile, Edmund (Gloucester’s illegitimate son) is plotting to frame his legitimate brother (Edgar) and steal his inheritance. He convinces Gloucester that Edgar sent him a letter suggesting that they betray their father. This is, of course, untrue. But Gloucester falls for it immediately. Such a blind fool … (yes, that’s foreshadowing).
Lear, now divested of all responsibility has come to stay with his eldest daughter Goneril. And he isn’t the best house guest. He’s brought a train of 100 knights who are drinking and partying and eating Goneril out of house and home. It’s a bit like a high school football team moving into your basement. Goneril, in speaking to her steward, says Lear is an “idle old man that still would manage those authorities that he hath given away.” Meaning, he said he gave his kingdom over to his daughters, but he hasn’t really given up the power he claims. Especially given he has a whole army following him around…
Lear returns and tries to order his daughter to come. She says she’s sick. He tries to order her steward to come. He says he will not. Lear potentially is confronted for the first time with the consequences of having given up his crown. People no longer obey because of his status or out of fear. When the steward finally comes, Lear asks “Who am I, sir?” And the steward replies he is his lady’s father. Lear wants to be addressed as King, but he is no longer the king. He assaults the steward and sends him away.
Goneril finally comes and berates Lear for his poor behavior and the poor behavior of his knights. Lear turns on her similar to how he did with Cordelia. He asks “are you our daughter?” and then pretends not to know her at all. When she won’t give in to him, he curses her to either be barren or have a cursed child. And he storms off.
Unpopular opinion: I sympathize with Regan and Goneril. Admittedly, that sympathy gets thrown out with Gloucester’s eyes, but their behavior is not irrational. Their father has violent fits of rage. He says he’s given them the kingdom but demands a train of a hundred knights at his command that he marches into their homes. He’s banished his favorite daughter and his closest confidante. They aren’t completely irrational to fear what he will do with those knights.
Goneril sends a letter to Regan to convince her also to fear Lear’s train of a hundred knights. Her husband, Albany, suggests she’s over-reacting. Perhaps we’re supposed to believe him. But do you? This could be played in a myriad of ways. Perhaps Goneril is maliciously drumming of false cause to strip Lear of his knights. Or, perhaps, she’s in charge of the household and is the one who has to deal with the havoc wreaked by those knights. We’ll let the director and the patriarchy be the judge.
But regardless of how we feel about Goneril’s treatment of Lear he does have two compatriots. There’s Kent who loves (enables?) him, and the Fool who confronts him with the truth at every turn. The Earl of Kent, who Lear banished, has disguised himself and sought a place within Lear’s train, which he is granted. And the Fool follows Lear around mocking him with the idiocy of giving up his power and possessions, frequently referring to him as “empty” or “nothing.” Definitely don’t invite that guy to your retirement party.
Lear sends Kent with a letter to Regan, hoping that she’ll let him stay with her sooner than planned. And, for the first time, we see some vulnerability in Lear. He says “I did her wrong” but doesn’t explain. Does he mean Cordelia or Goneril? Probably the former but not necessarily. And then he begs the heavens to keep his sanity. Why? Does he feel like he’s losing grip on reality? Is that his ultimate fear as he ages? Is that why he gave up the crown? Why is that the miracle he asks for?
At Gloucester’s castle, we learn that Regan and her husband Cornwall are coming to stay. Edmund tricks Edgar into fleeing, and then wounds his arm to convince his father that Edgar has injured him. Interestingly, after Edgar has fled and Regan arrived, Regan accuses Edgar of having been consort with her father’s drunken knights and Edmund confirms. But is that true? Whose testimony do we trust in this play? Regan then tells Gloucester they’ve come to that castle because they’ve received letters from Lear and Goneril, and wanted “to answer from our home.” Again, why? Is she afraid her father will lay siege to her house? Her sister?
Kent (still disguised) arrives at Gloucester’s castle with a letter from Lear at the same time Oswald (the steward) arrives with the letter from Goneril. They fight. And, unpopular opinion, it’s Kent who starts it. Edmund and Regan’s husband Cornwall stop it. Kent is sent to the stocks, even though he says he “serves the king.” Gloucester tries to stop them, saying the king will be offended if they subject his servant to such a lowly punishment. Regan says her sister will take it far worse, and commits Kent to the stocks. And once they all leave, Kent pulls out a letter he’s received from Cordelia.
Later, Lear arrives in the castle to find Kent (disguised) in the stocks. Lear is offended to find his messenger so mistreated. Kent’s explanation of how he came to be in the stocks does not completely comport with the version we saw a few scenes prior. Lear demands to speak with Regan and Cornwall but they will not. Lear is again shocked that his commands are no longer being heeded. He threatens to break down their bedchamber door. They finally come.
Regan tries to convince Lear to go back to Goneril, claiming that his riotous knights were the reason for their falling out. She suggests he apologize. He scoffs at the ridiculousness. He’s offended she would take half of his knights away and yell at him. He again curses Goneril and Regan says the obvious — “so will you wish on me when the rash mood is on.”
Goneril arrives and the sisters clasp hands. Lear is shocked. Regan pleas with him to dismiss half his train and return with Goneril. And, perhaps, some of her machinations are shown. She says they are away from home and cannot make accommodation for him yet. Perhaps that is the real reason they’ve come to Gloucester’s castle. Lear tries to banish Goneril as he did Cordelia, saying he’ll never see her again and stay instead with Regan. Regan says no he will not. He must return with Goneril.
And here is a turning point. Regan suggests it’s dangerous to have so many followers of two different masters. Goneril suggests he just be attended by the servants of the household. Regan says “for now I spy a danger” and suggests he only bring twenty-five. So Lear says he’ll go with Goneril, fifty is better than twenty-five. Goneril then asks why he needs twenty-five, perhaps just ten or even five. Regan suggests merely one (If this reminds you of bartering with a toddler, many scholars would argue that is not an accident).
Now, did Goneril and Regan plan to do this to their father or is it the result of fear at the way he’s behaved since giving up his authority? Shakespeare doesn’t say…
As for Lear, he storms off into the literal storm with his fool. Goneril and Regan essentially say he’ll only learn by touching the stove, and close the castle gates against him. Kent wanders into the storm to find him, telling a passing gentleman that Cordelia is returning with the King of France and an army. He then finds Lear and the Fool. The Fool begs Lear to return to his daughters, but he won’t. Kent leads them to a hovel for shelter, and Lear begins to act paternal toward the Fool, worried about his health and safety in the storm.
In revisiting the idea of the morality play, who are these characters? Perhaps Kent is pride or authority, and the Fool is truth? Or, perhaps, they’re merely men.
Back at the castle, Gloucester wants to go after Lear. He also mentions receiving a letter from the French King. Once he leaves, Edmund immediately plots to betray him. Shocking, I know.
In the hovel, the crew come upon Edgar who is disguised as a madman named Poor Tom. Lear is certain only unfaithful daughters could cause Poor Tom to be so wretched. And now is a good point to discuss the theories of Lear’s madness. Many people have made the argument that he’s suffering from dementia. He could also be a clinical narcissists having a psychotic break. Or perhaps the storm has caused him to dissociate. Shakespeare doesn’t give us real answers.
Lear, in his delusion, puts his daughters on trial but comes to no conclusion. Gloucester comes and says he’s overheard a plot to kill Lear. I’d remind you that Gloucester still trusts Edmund, and he doesn’t say from whom he’s heard this plot… They take Lear to Dover where the French army has landed. Edgar, alone after they’ve left, laments what’s happened to the King.
Edmund has betrayed his father and been given his title by Cornwall (Regan’s husband). Cornwall sends Goneril and Edmund off to Albany (Goneril’s husband) to prepare for the French invasion. Cornwall sends servants to hunt down Gloucester. Gloucester is brought in, and in one of the most horrific moments in Shakespeare’s cannon, Cornwall plucks out Gloucester’s eyes. They also torture him for Lear’s location and learn he’s being brought to Dover. A servant stabs Cornwall to save Gloucester, and Regan kills the servant. And as Gloucester loses his second eye (at Regan’s encouragement), they reveal that it was Edmund that betrayed him.
So as Gloucester is blinded, he finally sees. Subtlety, thy name is Shakespeare.
Regan and Cornwall release Gloucester to “smell his way to Dover.” In one version of the play, he’s then bandaged up by servants. In the other, he’s left completely alone. Regardless, Edgar comes upon his father wandering outside. An old man tries to help Gloucester but Gloucester says its too dangerous. Edgar, still disguised as Poor Tom, approaches. Gloucester laments how he treated Edgar. Gloucester sends the old man to bring clothes for Edgar. He then asks Edgar to lead him to a cliff in Dover where he can fling himself off and die.
Goneril and Edmund arrive at Goneril’s castle. Her steward tells them that her husband Albany has turned sides. She sends Edmund back to her sister to warn her. And then they kiss. We don’t see Goneril falling for Edmund, don’t see how he’s manipulated her as he has everyone else in this play.
Edmund leaves and Albany enters. Albany berates Goneril for the way she’s treated Lear and Gloucester. A messenger enters and announces Cornwall is dead. Goneril immediately worries that Edmund will leave her for Regan. In modern day, we might refer to this as daddy issues …
In the French camp, we learn that the King of France went back to France, leaving Cordelia in Britain. And that Cordelia doesn’t hold Lear’s actions against him. Meanwhile, Cordelia sends a search party out for Lear and prepares to meet the armies of her sisters.
Edgar brings Gloucester to the top of a hill and tricks him into believing he’s jumped from a cliff and been miraculously saved. This does not improve Gloucester’s (very justified) melancholy. And then they stumble upon Lear. And, perhaps, amidst his mad ravings, he’s also seen the truth. He admits that all the things people said were flattery. He tried to command the storm and could not. People told him he was “everything” but he is not.
A gentlemen comes to take Lear to Cordelia, but he runs away. The gentlemen give chase. Goneril’s steward arrives and tries to kill Gloucester, but Edgar kills him. As he dies, the steward asks Edgar to give the letter in his possession to Edmund. Edgar reads it and learns Goneril wants Edmund to kill her husband and marry her. They head off for the French camp.
At the French camp, Lear has been found and is being nursed by doctors. Cordelia thanks Kent for caring for her father. Lear and Cordelia reunite. It’s quite lovely. If the play just stopped at that moment, it would be a happy ending. But, alas, Edmund has command of Regan and Cornwall’s, army and he’s coming.
Edgar intercepts Albany who is set to join armies with Edmund/Regan to stop the French invasion. He shows Albany the letter plotting his death and tells him that he’ll produce a champion to vouch for its authenticity. They leave and Edmund takes the stage, considering which of the two sisters he should marry. His aim at social climbing has nearly reached the peak. He started as the unacknowledged, illegitimate son. Then an earl. Soon the king.
Cordelia’s army loses and Edmund sends Cordelia and Lear to prison. He then sends word to have them murdered. But his celebration is cut off when Albany enters and challenges him to a duel. Albany makes an announcement seeking the messenger who claimed he had evidence that Edmund was a traitor.
Enter Edgar.
Edgar and Edmund fight. Edmund is injured. Goneril bemoans his injury, and Albany confesses he knows she’s betrayed him as well. Goneril runs off. Edmund seeks forgiveness for his wrongs and he and Edgar reconcile. Edgar then tells Albany about his exploits, about saving his father, and about how his father died of joy and grief when Edgar revealed himself. A servant then enters and announces that Regan has died of poison (Goneril did it), and Goneril has also died.
Distraught, Edmund admits he sent to have Lear and Cordelia killed, and sends a messenger to stop it. He says both he and Goneril sent the commission, but, yet again, is he truthful?
Lear enters carrying a dead Cordelia, and moaning “Howl, howl, howl!”1 Lear holds a feather in front of her face, and believes he sees it move. Believes she is alive.
It’s announced Edmund has died, and Albany concedes the crown to Lear for the remainder of his life. Again, this could end happily.
But it does not.
Lear, using his final breaths to insist that Cordelia breathes, dies. Cordelia was already dead. Only Kent, Edgar, and Albany remain.
So what’s the moral? Where’s the silver lining? Lear’s inability to relinquish being King led to his destruction, and once handed the crown again, he died. Cordelia, who was exiled because she could not promise to love her father more than her husband, died because she stayed in search of her father instead of returning to France with her husband. Edmund, whose machinations drove the majority of the plot, repented at the last minute, was forgiven, and died.
As we were promise, all that’s left is nothing.
Speak the Speech, I Pray You
Bring Shakespeare’s words into your own life by:
Letting your husband be late for golf because he didn’t put his keys in the tray like you’ve repeatedly reminded him;
Shrugging off the *minor* injury your toddler sustained by — “NO, DON’T TOUCH THAT!”
Watching the world burn as your luddite supervisor corrupts the thumb drive:
Additional Resources
Find a copy of the entire play here.
Learn more about medieval morality plays here.
Check out a lecture on links between Shakespeare’s plays and morality interludes through this lecture here.
Another way of reading this play is to read Lear as falling down the Elizabethan chain of being, going from King to man to creature.