The story started out a little dull (or maybe it took me that long to get reacquainted with Shakespearean English), but it really finished fast and strong, with a horrific tragedy. It was a revolting ending of madness and maniacal self-will and lust, but like a deadly car accident, I couldn't pull my eyes away from the seen, intransed by the inevitable dead bodies on display. King Lear died of a broken heart after witnessing all three daughters die by evil plots against themselves due to lies and treachery, leaving two faithful servants and a reformed son-in-law the divided kingdom which was the cause of so much misery and death. It was a worthy tragedy, as only Shakespeare could create.
One thing I've noticed about Shakespeare is that all his plays are rather idealistic. Each of the deaths in King Lear is prefaced by the dying character with a confession of sins and lamentation of an evil life. That never happens, nor will ever happen. Even the great "band of brothers" speech in Henry the fifth is idealistic, and far from reality. Those words would, and never will, be spoken in sincerity before an act of mortal combat. Men in combat are there not by choice, but by destiny or horrible luck, like men stuck in a tornado thrown out at the worst possible moment, caught up in the actions of the moment. Men fight then for life and limb, for comrades, and by training. Its not idealistic, but realistic. Kill or be killed.
Thats just one example, but Shakespearean plays are full of this idealistic chatter. Of course, that is what makes the plays exiting and successful throughout the centuries. It is the idealistic chatter that men wish they were man enough to utter upon their deathbeds, but are too mortal to intone. Rather, we are boys that die with "mother" and "water" on our lips, and blood on our bodies. In this sense, this vision of what death and battle should be like can be dangerous, in that it turns the veteran callous to the cause and civilization for which he fights. However, despite the affirmation of no idealism, it is the ideals that promote wars and strife, and that cause the worst bloodshed and damage to mankind. Unfortunately, that is human nature, and the truthfulness of Shakespeares renditions of human nature are what have made him popular for nearly four hundred years.
Unfortunately for King Lear, he fell beneath his own human nature of haughtiness and foolishness. May we be better men from his example.
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