Parent-Child Relationship In King Lear
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Parent-Child Relationships in King Lear: The Neglect of Natural Law
At the heart of King Lear lies the relationship between father and child. Central to this filial theme is the conflict between mans law and natures law. Natural law is synonymous with the moral authority usually associated with divine justice. Those who adhere to the tenets of natural law are those characters in the text who act instinctively for the common goodЖKent, Albany, Edgar, and Cordelia.
Eventually, Gloucester and Lear learn the importance of natural law when they recognize that they have violated these basic tenets, with both finally turning to nature to find answers for why their children have betrayed them. Their counterparts, Edmund, Goneril, Regan, and Cornwall, represent the evil that functions in violation of natural law. All four conspirators are without conscience and lack recognition of higher moral authority, since they never consider divine justice as they plot their evil. Their law is man-made, and it focuses on the individual, not the good of the community. Tragedy unfolds as two carefully interwoven and parallel stories explore the abandonment of natural order and the unnatural betrayal of parent and child.
In the primary plot, Lear betrays his youngest daughter and is betrayed by his two oldest daughters. In almost identical fashion, the subplot reveals another father, Gloucester, who betrays his older legitimate son and who is betrayed by his younger illegitimate son. In both cases, the natural filial relationship between father and children is destroyed through a lack of awareness, a renunciation of basic fairness and natural order, and hasty judgment based on emotions. By the plays end, the abandonment of natural order leaves the stage littered with the dead bodies of fathers and their children.
In the opening act, Lear creates a love test to justify giving Cordelia a larger share of his kingdom. Although his kingdom should be divided equally, Lear clearly loves Cordelia more and wants to give her the largest, choice section of his wealth. In return, Lear expects excessive flattery and gushing confessions of love. But instead, Cordelias reply is tempered, honest, and reasonableЖcustom dictates that she share her love between her husband and her father.
Just as soon as Cordelia fails to meet her fathers expectations, Lear disinherits her. At Cordelias loss, Goneril and Regan are quick to take advantage. They may have genuinely loved their father at one time, but they now seem tired of having been passed over in favor of their younger sister. After Lear states his obvious preference for Cordelia, the older sisters feel free to seek their revenge, turning the familys natural order on its ear. At the same time, Lear fails to see the strength and justice in natural law, and disinherits his youngest child, thus setting in motion the disaster that follows. Lear puts in place a competition between sisters that will carry them to their graves.
In a similar father-child relationship, the opening scene of King Lear positions Gloucester as a thoughtless parent. The audiences introduction to this second father has him speaking of Edmunds birth in a derogatory manner. Although Gloucester says that he loves both Edmund and Edgar equally, society does not regard the two as equalЖand neither does Gloucester, whose love is limited to words and not actions of equality. According to natures law, Edmund is as much Gloucesters son as Edgar is; but according to mans law of primogeniture, Edmund is not recognized as Gloucesters heir.
In one of the initial pieces of information offered about Edmund, Gloucester tells Kent that Edmund has been away seeking his fortune, but he has now returned. Under English law, Edmund has no fortune at home, nor any entitlement. Edmunds return in search of family fortune provides the first hint that he will seize what English laws will not give him. Clearly, Edmunds actions are a result of his fathers preferenceЖboth legal and filialЖfor Edgar, his older and legitimate son. This favoritism leads to Edmunds plan to destroy his father in an attempt to gain legitimacy and Gloucesters estate. Again, the natural order of family is ignored.
Gloucester rejects natural law and a parents love for his child when he is easily convinced that EdgarЖthe son he claims to love so muchЖhas betrayed him. Gloucester also puts his faith in Edmunds command of persuasive language, when he rejects the love his eldest son has always shown him.