king lear' motif and symbols by kehkashan kanwal

“In the name of Allah who is most Gracious and most merciful”

“IN THE NAME OF ALLAH

THE MOST GRACIOUS AND MOST MERCIFUL”

INTRODUCTION OF THE WRITER

William Shakespeare1564-1616 Born in Stratford

Married at age 18

(his wife was 26) Worked as an actor

Member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men Company

WORK OF SHAKESPEARE

ComedyTragedyHistorical

TRAGEDIES OF SHAKESPEARE

•Hamlet•Romeo and Juliet•Othello•Macbeth•King Lear

KING

LEAR

Introductio

n

Summary

Characters

Themes

TOPIC OF PRESENTATION

MOTIFS Madness Betrayal

SYMBOLSStormBlindness

WHAT IS MOTIF? Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.

WHAT IS MADNESS?

• Insanity occupies a central place in the play and is associated with both disorder and hidden wisdom.

FOOL’S MADNESS The Fool, who offers Lear insight in the early sections of the play, offers his counsel in a seemingly mad babble.

EDGER’S MADNESS Edgar’s feigned insanity, which also contains nuggets of wisdom for the king to mine. Meanwhile, Edgar’s time as a supposedly insane beggar hardens him and prepares him to defeat Edmund at the close of the play.

KING LEAR ‘S MADNESS When Lear himself goes mad, the turmoil in his mind mirrors the chaos that has descended upon his kingdom. 

At the same time, however, it also provides him with important wisdom by reducing him to his bare humanity, stripped of all royal pretensions. Lear thus learns humility.

WHAT IS BETRAYAL?

Betrayal play a critical role in the play and show the working of wickedness in both the familial and political realm.

BETRAYAL IN DRAMA Brother betray brother Sister betray sister Children betray father (to get the power of Britain)

Lear’s blindness and madness betray Cordelia’s love

DESCRIPTION OF BETRAYAL Goneril and Regan betrayal of Lear rises them to power in Britain, where Edmund, who has betrayed both Edger and Gloucester.

Goneril and Regan fall out when they both become attracted to Edmund, and how their jealousies of one another ultimately lead to mutual destruction. 

Lear’s blind, foolish betrayal of Cordelia’s love for him, which reinforces that at the heart of every betrayal lies a skewed set of values.

WHAT ARE SYMBOLS?Symbols are objects, characters, figuresor colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

THE

STOR

M

How can you

repre

sent

storm

in

King Lear?

SHAKESPEARE REPRESENTS

STORMThe storm is meant to symbolizeInner and mental feelingsPower of naturePolitical situation of Britain

DESCRIPTION OF STORM The relationship of selfishness, greed and longing of power between King Lear and his daughters

The power of Nature is greater than the power of King

Current chaotic situation of Britain.

How can

we

represent

blindness

in King

Lear?

BLINDN

ESS

DESCRIPTION OF BLINDNESS

According Shakespeare; blindness is

•Non physical quality•Mental flow that people possess•Blindness is the inability to see the character

In the play “King Lear” following are the type of

blindness

•Blindness of Liar•Blindness of Gloucester•Blindness of Albeny

KING LEAR’S BLINDNESS

The blindest bat of all was undoubtedly King Lear. Because of Lear's high position in society, he was supposed to be able to distinguish the good from the bad; unfortunately, his lack of sight prevented him to do so.

Lear's first act of blindness came at the beginning of the play when he Ignored Cordiella’s love and believed his two elder daughters.

Second act of blind was to banish one of his loyal followers, Kent.

Lear's blindness ended up costing Cordiella her life and consequently the life of himself.

GLOUCESTER'S BLINDNESS

No ability to see the goodness of Edgar and the evil of Edmund although he had physical sight.

Ability to see the true nature of his sons occurred after having his eyes plucked out by the Duke of Cornwall.

ALBANY’S BLINDNESSBlindness of the love

he had for Goneril

Deep devotion to Goneril blinded him from the evil she possesses

Gonerial planned to kill Albany

GROUP ACTIVITY

Five minutes Activity

Group ASaira Aqsa

Group BHassan Sahar

Group CMakhoob

ana Azeem

Group DMariaAbbas

Kindly Open The Paper and follow the direction.

Thank You!

your feedback is highly appreciated.