The characters in Shakespeare's play King Lear endure immense physical, psychological, and emotional torment before meeting their demise. Shakespeare's exploration of their pain highlights two existential dilemmas. First, the work's violence raises the question of whether we, as readers, are consoled by our ability to make sense of plot developments, whether through catharsis or other means, or whether we believe the final bloodbath to be was useless. Another significant question posed by the work concerns the role of the gods. Shakespeare's characters universally accept their roles and often allude to them, but those who experience suffering and hardship often question the function of the gods as preservers of human justice. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay To develop these questions about the existence of divine punishment, Shakespeare juxtaposes Gloucester and Edgar's interpretations of the gods' treatment of human lives. Edgar refers to the individual divine justice system, for example, when he explains: "The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices / Make instruments to torment us" (5.3.172-3). His attitude contrasts sharply with Gloucester's earlier statement that "We are to the gods as flies to little boys; / They kill us for their sport" (4.1.37-8). Gloucester's statement may seem more in line with the developments of the work than Edgar's. However, in my opinion, Edgar's intuition should not be discredited as oversimplified or naive. Nor should it be assumed that the gods have reformed in the meantime. Rather, I will offer what Albany describes as “comfort for this great decay” (5.3.304) by applying the Judeo-Christian model of God's “mysterious works” to justify suffering. By highlighting how tragedy offers characters new perspectives and articulating how in the most tragic moments unlikely characters rise to a higher moral high ground by resisting human rights violations, I hope to show that the bloodbath of the play's conclusion and humanity's existential status , it's not useless. The parallel experiences of Lear and Gloucester exemplify this form of divine punishment which, although cruel and torturous, can be considered comforting from a humanistic point of view. While both characters are well-intentioned nobles, they each possess a fatal flaw. Lear is ruled by his ego, which leads to the test of pseudo-love he puts his three daughters through to determine their respective inheritances. Meanwhile, Gloucester is such a naive character that he believes Edmund invented Edgar's plan to kill him. As a result, both Lear and Gloucester initially favor their "evil" offspring over their "good" offspring; ironically, they believe that the latter committed the crimes that their brothers then commit. However, despite their poor judgment, both characters possess a redeeming quality. Both are willing to offer whatever charitable gesture they can to "poor Tom o' Bedlam", Edgar in costume as a wandering beggar. The gestures are relatively sparse. However, they show that, despite their suffering, Lear and Gloucester each begin to adopt egalitarian worldviews that contrast with their previously held monarchical principles. It is only after Lear's wicked daughters ruin him, however, that he becomes truly charitable. Goneril and Regan strip him of his real material possessions and symbolic power, exemplified by the number of guardians he has, of which they assure him he has "noneed." Reduced to a miserable destitute, Lear begins to help those less fortunate than himself (who, ironically, are now relatively few). However, Lear does not come to this realization without suffering great personal anguish and mental damage. In response to Regan's assertion that his wayward servants no longer perform any necessary functions for him, since she and her sister can adequately provide for him, he proclaims: Learn: O reason, not want! poorer superfluous thing. Do not allow nature more than nature needs, the life of man is as good as that of the beast. You are a lady; if only you were beautiful to warm yourself, because nature does not need what you splendid you wear, that barely keeps you warm, for the real need... You, heaven, give me that patience, patience that I need maintenance of real attractions is not directly related to his functional abilities, his lack of them denies him his true real identity. His poverty makes him indistinguishable from a "poor, naked, forked animal" (3.4.108). Additionally, Lear comments on Regan's preference to dress in style, rather than stay warm. He puns on the word “gorgeous” to demonstrate that these symbolic gestures, which can confirm us as human beings rather than mere mammals, can be more vital than the most primal human needs. Therefore, his daughters cannot compute his need for these validation mechanisms. He is so troubled by the self-sacrifice inflicted by his daughters that he loses control of his emotions and is driven to madness. However, being stripped to the core of his existence, Lear comes to terms with his unadorned and exposed self and is forced to examine his inner character. In doing so, he discovers that humanity is not, in reality, based on the individual collection and hoarding of resources. Rather, he concludes, it is of greater value to practice humanistic socialism "by giving a little charity to poor Tom, whom the evil demon vexes" (3.4.61), an idea he would never have considered in his role as king . of England. Lear, concerned for the well-being of "Tom o' Bedlam" (Edgar in disguise) comments: Lear, you would do better in a grave than answer with your body exposed at this end of the heavens. Is man nothing other than this? Consider it carefully. You do not owe silk to the worm, skin to the beast, wool to the sheep, perfume to the cat. Ah! Here are three that are sophisticated. You are the thing itself; the man without accommodation is nothing more than a poor naked and forked animal like you. Away, away, you loans! Come, unbutton here. [He begins to undress] Fool: Please, uncle, be satisfied; It's a bad night to swim in. Now a little fire in a wild field would be like the heart of an old libertine: a little spark, all else on the cold body... (3.4.102-13) After Lear realizes that his life no longer exists precious than that of a beggar, he is willing to sacrifice his own comfort and well-being for that of Tom. Lear comments that death is a more favorable status than enduring a tumultuous storm without protection. This foreshadows Kent's observation on Lear's death that "The wonder is that he held out so long" (5.3.324), regarding the proverbial storm that ruined Lear's later life. However, despite the trials and hardships Lear endures, he remains willing to help someone even more desperate than himself. His actions exemplify the play's theme that, in the most destitute of circumstances, individuals sacrifice themselves to help others, and his utilitarian logic highlights his newfound idealism. Lear's most genuine and lucid moment isjuxtaposed with the more irrational one of the Fool. The Fool had previously offered wise and witty advice to Lear, whom he loves like family and calls "uncle." Now, however, he cannot understand Lear's gesture of giving his clothes to a beggar in the storm; the Fool, concerned more for Lear than the beggar, protests on the grounds that "it is a bad night for [Lear] to swim in" (3.4.110-11). Likewise, Gloucester also suffers immense physical anguish at the expense of his own actions. Questioned by Cornwall and Regan about his supposed decision to send Lear to Dover, he proclaims: "For I would not see thy cruel nails tear out his poor old eyes;... (3.7.57-8). This phrase proves morbidly harmful for him, for soon after Cornwall professes, "Thou shalt never." Gloucester seems more than justified in his blasphemy of "O cruel one! O ye gods!" (3.7.89) as they seem to ignore his request to intervene on his behalf. Yet even in the midst of this inhuman torture, Shakespeare provides an unlikely set of moral protagonists: the three court servants who defend the noble and humane Gloucester. Drawing his sword against the royal Cornwall, the First Servant rebels against the status quo and gives his life in defense of Gloucester. The second and third servants also generously care for the blind Gloucester; the Second Servant seeks visual aid for him in Tom o' Bedlam, while the Third Servant explains, "I will take some flax and some egg white to apply to his bleeding face. Now heaven help him" (4.1.107 - 8). By balancing humanitarian violation with humanistic acts, Shakespeare articulates the idea that the gods are not evil, but rather mysterious in their workings. The situation also offers the possibility of systemic changes to the English master-servant hegemonic monarchical framework. Furthermore, the inevitable bloodbath brings to King Lear the hope that a humanitarian political establishment may follow, under Edgar and Albany. After the servants pair the now blind Gloucester with his noble son Edgar, still disguised as Tom o' Bedlam, Gloucester, who has lost all faith in the moral integrity of the gods' rule over human endeavors, says to poor Tom: Gloucester: Here, take this bag, you whom the plagues of the heavens have humiliated at all costs. The fact that I'm unhappy makes you happier. Heavens, you act so calmly! Let the superfluous and lust-fed man, who is a slave to your ordinance, who does not see because he does not hear, quickly feel your power; so the distribution should cancel out the excess, and every man should have enough. Do you know Dover? Edgar: Yes, master. Gloucester: There is a cliff, whose high, curved head looks fearfully into the confined depths. Just take me to the edge, and I'll make up for the misery you endure with something rich from me. From that place I will not need to guide you. Edgar: Give me your arm. Poor Tom will guide you. (4.1.66-82) As a result of Gloucester's misery, he, like Lear, is now willing to aid Tom in a small-scale redistribution of wealth, highlighted by the lines "so the distribution should nullify the excess, and every man he will have enough." In his desire to commit suicide, Gloucester offers Edgar his bag and remarks, "The fact that I am miserable makes you happier," highlighting the idea that something good will come from tragic suffering. he whom "the plagues of the heavens have humbled at all costs" can prosper, as Gloucester promises Tom that he "...will make amends for the misery you endure with something rich in me." Therefore, the comfort provided by the ending of.