Comment on the dramatic irony that occurs in King Lear. 

Answer

Comment on the dramatic irony that occurs in King Lear. 

or, Discuss irony in King Lear.

“King Lear”(1608) is one of the best creations of William Shakespeare (1564-1616). He was an English playwright, poet and actor. In his drama, he mentions various dramatic irony, and these ironies play a pivotal role in shaping the narrative and engaging the audience. Through this literary device, Shakespeare creates a stark contrast between what the characters believe to be accurate and what the audience knows. It reveals tension, complexity, and deepening of the play’s themes.

Lear’s Division of the Kingdom: The play’s opening scene sets the stage for dramatic irony as King Lear decides to divide his kingdom among his daughters based on their professions of love for him. His elder daughter, Goneril, reveals her love for her father in a high-flown language. She says:

“Dearer than eyesight space and liberty; Beyond what can be valu’d, rich or rare; no less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour.”

Lear’s second daughter expresses the same things as Goneril. While the flattery of Goneril and Regan deceives Lear, the audience sees through their façad and recognises their insincerity and ulterior motives. Ironically, the king is highly pleased with their flattery of showy love and gives a good portion of his kingdom to each of them. But when Lear’s third daughter, Cordelia, reveals her realistic love for her father, her father becomes dissatisfied with this answer. Cordelia tells her father,

  “I love your majesty. According to my fond, not more nor less” 

It turns into a verbal irony enraging the king, who disowns her cruelly and divides her portion of the land between her two sisters. This disconnect between Lear’s perception and the audience’s knowledge intensifies the impending tragedy.

Gloucester’s Misjudgment of His Sons: Similarly, Gloucester’s inability to see the true nature of his sons, Edgar and Edmund, contributes to the dramatic irony in the play. Edmund deceives his father and plots to kill him to acquire