King Lear Act V

"How does Act 5 fit our expectation of a Shakespearean tragedy?"

Shakespeare wrote King Lear in 1605 or 1606 when he was already a successful playwright. It is one of his many tragedies, although it includes some differences. Nevertheless, following a classical model, the fifth act is used to bring a conclusion to the play, thus the audience expects the events to be wound up, with justice done and right restored. According to Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, a tragedy should arouse emotions of pity and fear; King Lear can be put in parallel to these thoughts.

First and foremost, a tragic story generally leads to, and includes the death of a hero. In King Lear, the protagonist dies in the last scene of the play following great suffering and apparent fatality. Nevertheless, what is particular about the hero in a Shakespearean tragedy is his ability to resist many harsh events, as Kent outlines it in Act 5 of King Lear: "The wonder is he hath endured so long. He has but usurped his life." This also reminds us that the story also depicts the troubled part of the hero's life that precedes and leads up to his death, which is exposed in the earlier acts and scenes.

In addition, what is also typical of a tragic story is suffering and calamity, these factors reach they climax in Act 5 with the death of Cordelia which sets total confusion in Lear's mind whether she is really dead. Indeed, the "old majesty" first says she's "dead as earth" before saying, "she lives", these contradictions shows he can't accept his truly loving daughter that he has just got back to be dead. This frustration is noticeable in his words of desperation: "Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little." where he calls for something he knows is impossible and is seeming to hear her speak. When he dies, we don't know if he thinks Cordelia lives, it's up to every audience member to make their opinion. Edgar tries to revive Lear, but Kent stops him, knowing that his master had reached the limit of suffering and was ready for death.

Moreover Shakespeare's tragic heroes are men of rank, and the calamities that befall them are unusual and exceptionally disastrous. That is precisely the case in King Lear where the hero goes from being the most powerful man in the country to being "stripped". After giving away his kingdom, his daughters rebel against him and violently take power of the kingdom giving him no recognition; he eventually becomes 'nothing'.

Thirdly, the Shakespearean tragic hero's fate affects the welfare of a whole nation or empire; and when he falls suddenly from the height of greatness to the dust, his fall produces a sense of contrast, which no tale of private life could possibly rival. That is why the state is described as "gored" in Act 5; this corresponds to the audience's expectation that the downfall of the hero will expose the powerlessness of man, victim of fate or fortune. This way, the audience can associate itself to the hero and thus feel more concerned. Also, the more universal and significant the meaning of the play, the more the playwright can catch and hold the emotions of the audience, the better the play will be.

Aristotle indicates that the medium of tragedy is drama, not narrative; tragedy "shows" rather than "tells." Maybe that's why we often see in Shakespeare's plays a number of human beings placed in certain situations, and from their relationships, certain actions arise. These actions cause other actions, until this series of deeds leads to complications and an inevitable catastrophe. In Act 5, Edmond is very triumphant, he even has more that what he wanted. However, division in his party is brought publicly, the exposition of the system of adultery between Gloucester's illegitimate son, Lear's two daughters and Albany turns into a murderous conflict between Regan and Gonerill. As for Edmond, although he manages to get rid of Cordelia, he's caught up by the events as his treachery is repressed and he finally dies. Ambiguously, he says: "I pant for life. Some good I mean to do", we can ask ourselves here if he's quickly trying to redeem himself or if he's simply aware that he's going to die. Meanwhile, Albany returns to Edgar and Kent their lands and titles, and intends to see that justice is done as friends "taste the wages of their virtue", and foes "the cup of their deservings. These events confirm the primary function of this final act: to bring a restoration of order and achieve Aristotle's requirements of arousing fear and pity. They also show that in general in Shakespearean tragedies there are two antagonist groups, and the conflict between these groups ends with the defeat of the hero, like in Macbeth where the protagonist is opposed to Macduff.

Besides, it is only when the tragic resolution takes place that we become aware of the greatness of Lear's soul.