King Lear

3 Pages 873 Words

King Lear Essay Outline

#6 – Examine the characteristics that make the evil characters temporarily succeed. For what reasons do they fail?


I – Introduction

· A Shakespearean play that closely relates to society.
· The evil characters temporarily succeed but fail in the end.
· They think they can outsmart society but get what they deserve in the end.
· Jealousy erupts between the two sisters.
· Edmund’s peculiar change of heart.
· Cornwall didn’t have enough knowledge to persecute Lear and Gloucester.
· Evil characters had to many obstacles to succeed and failed due to other conflicts.

Thesis: By looking at Regan’s, Goneril’s, Edmund’s, and Cornwall’s determination for control, desire for power, and lack of conscience they temporarily succeed but fail in the end due to jealousy, change of heart, and lack of control

II – Body

Paragraph 1

· Sub point: Regan and Goneril portray evil characteristics by being clever; they have no conscience, only appetite.
· Personifications of evil and greedy ambition.
· Profess their love to Lear with lies, insincerity, and wrong intentions.
· This begins Regan and Goneril’s plan because Lear believed then and gave them land.
· Goneril complains about Lear and say, “His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us/” (I iii, line 6)
· Both Regan and Goneril didn’t want Lear to live with them.
· Cornwall and Regan demand that Kent be put in the stocks.
· Goneril makes Lear beg on his knees to Regan for forgiveness.
· They leave Lear outside in storm and lock the doors on him.
· Insult Gloucester, tie him up, and pull on his beard. (pg.161)
· Goneril insults Albany of being a coward.
· Regan promises Oswald a reward if he can kill Gloucester.
· Goneril urges Edmund to kill Albany.
· Begin to fail because of dispute over Edmund.
· Alliance begins to separate because of the desire of Edmund.
· Reg...