King Lear is a story that is full of tragic events and ends. Cordelia is banished by his father and dies before any reconciliation. Lear is betrayed by his daughters and dies after learning about his misjudgment regarding Cordelia.

Gloucester banishes his loving son Edgar and loses her vision. Edgar is forced to abdicate his home by his own brother who wants to kill him. Kent is dismissed for his insistence on loyalty over flattery.

Albany learns about his wife’s infidelity and plans to murder him. All these story curves bring to life a true Aristotelian tragedy but with Shakespearean twists.

Feminism in King Lear explores two different strands of womanhood. On one hand is Cordelia, caring and compassionate and adhering to the popular image of womanly behaviour.

On the flip side are Goneril and Regina who are barbaric and ambitious. They are devoid of emotions and are even more lustful and aggressive than their husbands. the seemingly despondent reaction of Lear when he learns about his dependence on his daughters may also point at the unacceptability of women as wise and just rulers.

This creates a rather masculine portrayal of the female gender and a dismissal of them as worthy leaders in society.

Redemption occurs in King Lear as the King realises his mistake and owns up to it. The maltreatment of Cordelia, the only daughter who truly loved him started a terrible chain of events which completely breaks Lear’s trust in people and he goes insane.

In the climax he realises his mistake and accepts that Cordelia deserved her legacy. Similarly, Gloucester disowns Edgar and has to accept in the end that Edgar was his true heir and not Edmund.

The fool in King Lear is the guardian of Lear in the absence of Cordelia. He acts as his conscience and judges his intentions and actions. He also provides protection to the King and offers him advice. His fate is linked directly with Lear’s and he fills the void left by Cordelia in Lear’s life.

King Lear is a text full of moments of true pathos. The dismissal of Cordelia is described by the fool in words full of pathos. The downfall of once mighty King to a homeless wanderer in the shape of Lear is also full of pathos.

The scene where blind Gloucester is helped to an astounding and cathartic deception is another powerful and emotionally moving piece of pathos. Also, the loyalty of the fool for his master even in challenging conditions of rain and exclusion invites a flood f emotions in the fixated audiences.