Notes from 3/8

On this day in class we talked about the play king Lear and how the play is a violation of poetic, retributive justice. Nothing good happens to those who do good. There is no happy ending. The gods do not punish those who deserve punishment. It's not exactly a real uplifting play.
Theodicy- question of the justice of God.
Inexpilcable suffering- present throughout the play.
When Lear chooses to divide his kingdom he divides himself. When he asks his daughters to tell him how much they love him the first two respond with great statements of flattery. The third, Cordelia says she loves him according to her bond, which seems to be a reoccuring theme throughout Shakespeare.
Also worth noting:
Edmund is the first existentialist- his evil nature has no natural explanation. He's just plain evil.
Oswald- possibly the most despised character in all of Shakespeare
Fool- Lear's conscience. He can say whatever he wants because he is, after all, the fool.
Marilyn