Examine the use of parallelism in King Lear.
Or. What are the advantages
of the double plot in King Lear?
Dramatic significance of the subplot in King Lear
King
Lear consists of two plots, a main plots and a subplot. The main plot centers
round the consequence of King Lear’s folly in dividing his kingdom between his
two selfish and cruel daughters and disowning and turning out his third sincere
daughter, Cordelia. The subplot deals with the consequences of the folly of
Gloucester in trusting his wicked son Edmund and turning out his noble and
sincere son Edgar.
The
play has been designed to gain effect through parallelism and contrast of the
two plots and that of characters. Firstly, both the stories deal with the same
theme 1. e. moral disequilibrium. In both stories wrong are committed against
the natural order and that order reasserts itself with terrible consequences
for the wrong-doer. King Lear commits a wrong both as a father and as a king,
and his wrongs recoil on his own head. In the subplot Gloucester violates the
natural order in trusting the treacherous Edmund and disowning Edgar and the
consequences to him also are terrible. Thus in both the plots the fathers are
unfair in the treatment of their children through an error of judgment. Later
in both the cases there is the problem of filial duty. The development of both
the fathers lies in their acknowledgement of the limitations of insight that
prevented them from understanding the children who are sincere.
Secondly,
the two stories run closely parallel and each reinforces and heightens the
effect of the other. The subplot is but a duplication of the main plot, and
this similarity has been emphasized at every point. In the main plot Cordelia
is deprived of her due portion of paternal property but she sacrifices herself
to save her father from the cruel sisters. In the subplot, Edmund, in contrast
to Cordelia receives good from his father but he seeks his destruction. As for
similarity we find, Cordelia and Edgar are closely similar to each other, but
Cordelia is also the exact antithesis of Edmund, as Edgar is that of Goneril
and Regan.
Further
the main and the subplot have been blended together by relating the characters
of the play important roles in the other. Thus Gloucester, Edmund and Edgar are
closely interrelated with the characters and action of the main plot.
Gloucester is an important link, for he holds an important office at Lear’s
court. He is also in some way, subordinate to Cornwall. His loyalty to Lear
brings him in conflict with Cornwall.
The introduction of the
double plot in King Lear, despite the skill of the dramatist carries with it
certain disadvantages. It results in overcrowding. Too many characters and too
many incidents following each other in quick succession distract the attention
of the readers and weaken the effect. However there are some advantages too, of
double plot. It introduces variety and increases the interest of the play.
Individually each of the two stories would appear incredible, a mere incident
turning the heart of the fathers against the children, and those of the
children against fathers. Together they acquire a universal significance and a
meaning.
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