King Lear V.S. Macbeth

The two protagonists are sympathetic characters who share sympathetic qualities found in certain criteria. Both are unique in their ways but I find Macbeth to be more sympathetic if not equal to Lear. Both characters seek power but behave differently to acquire it. Though Fate is addressed in one of the plays, it is clear that they both also contribute to their demise regardless of what is said, Macbeth in particular. The anagnorisis of the characters, or self-revelation, is strongly apparent but more meaningful in Macbeth. Poetic Justice is also applied to both characters, though the extremes are different, the result is all the same. Macbeth and King Lear both demonstrate the qualities that identify with a sympathetic character but the actions are most pronounced with that of Macbeth.

The right to rule as king is a given for both characters, the only difference is how this power is attained, and used. Macbeth does not possess the right to be crowned as king. The only reason he was even remotely interested was when the witches spoke the prophecies (1.3 lines 46-48). After having one come true, he assumes responsibility to make the rest come true as well. Macbeth is not fit to rule as king because the king is appointed by God. Macbeth was appointed by the devil. Also, the king is meant to help people and rule with honor. Macbeth, however, kills the king in his sleep thus framing him a coward and dishonorable. In stark contrast to Macbeth, King Lear is right to rule. He is rightfully appointed and people obey him with pleasure or passively because he is appointed by God. Similar to Macbeth however, Lear shows signs of being unfit to rule. He is rash in his decisions and draws radical pre-mature conclusions. When one of his daughters, Cordelia, stumbles in her words of love for him he immediately banishes her and Kent for sharing his opinion. In the first place, King Lear was going to divide the kingdom between his daughters, a mistake and not very king-like behavior. It is clear then, that both are unfit to be king, which leads us to their fall.

The characters have an extreme difference to their downfall, the main difference being the amount of violence that went into it. Macbeth is solely responsible for his own downfall. He clearly describes his inner desire to kill the king (2.1 lines 33-49) and allows himself to be manipulated by Lady Macbeth. She is constantly telling to do things. She tells him to kill the king (1.7 lines 48-57), wash his hands (2.2 lines 44-45), and to be calm so to not arouse suspicion (3.2 lines 27-29). Furthermore, he becomes continually paranoid. This paranoia feeds his need to consult the witches on additional issues (4.1 lines 66-77). If he hadn’t come across the witches in the first place, Macbeth probably would not have gone through such an elaborate plan to claim the crown or send men to kill Macduff’s family (4.3 lines 205-208). After wrongfully banishing Cordelia and Kent, Lear’s mental state continues to deteriorate. When Albany arrives to speak to Lear, Lear goes off again on his distaste for Cordelia’s behavior (1.4 lines 252-267). He continually does this throughout the play, becoming more and more insane. Not only is he confronted with Cordelia but also a possible assassination scheme. Though the characters contribute to their downfall, they are not completely lost in their “mind”.

The characters come to term with their problem and their anagnorisis is poignant and insightful. Macbeth’s anagnorisis is brief but very worldly and thought provoking. Throughout the play, Macbeth is consulting witches and plotting a coup with his wife. His character quickly degrades and any sympathetic qualities become lost to his dependence on the prophecies his growing paranoia, and his impulsive need to solidify his position. His anagnorisis is very pessimistic, describing life as a shadow, or “a tale told by an idiot… signifying nothing” (5.5 lines 17-27). Although he resumes his previous behavior, Macbeth is looking at life and ponders his position. He wishes a better death for his wife, who helped drag them both down. There are moments of guilt that Macbeth expresses, like when he killed the King, but nothing as revealing as this. At the end of the play, Lear is remorseful over the hanging of Cordelia and goes on wondering why all other things should have life at all (5.3 lines 304-309). I find it interesting that he doesn’t address the other events of the play. After cursing Cordelia throughout the play, you’d think he’d be glad to see her hang. Lear’s love for his daughter is no mistake and though he appears completely mad and senseless in the end, he has a final moment of remorse for the person he cursed the most. Though they can have these insightful moments in the play, this doesn’t stop Justice from being administered.

Poetic Justice is definitely met. During Macbeth’s paranoid episodes, he sends murderers to the Macduff castle. The slaughter of Macduff’s family is evil and is met with revenge. Macbeth and Macduff duel leaving Macduff the victor (5.11). The king’s death is also avenged through the paranormal death of Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is haunted by images of blood and succumbs to an illness that the doctors cannot identify (5.1 line 30). If you consider Harsh language as a weapon then I suppose Lear met his doom to that extent, otherwise it is quite tricky to place an absolute moment of poetic justice. King Lear appeared to grow bored with his huge stature and decided to take radical steps as a King. First he attempts to divide the kingdom, banishes a few people, and quickly recruits another who is in plain disguise. All is done without a second thought. I believe the Poetic Justice comes in to close up his trail of bad decisions much like Macbeth.

Though it is clear that none of the two are fit to be king, because Lear is mad and Macbeth is a homicidal paranoid. Both also commit a huge amount to their downfall; Lear cannot get a grip on himself and Macbeth is obsessed with keeping his kingship with murderous intent. The two have a small blessed moment where they reflect on life in general and decide there is no meaning to any of it. This pessimistic view is then quickly followed by their collapse. The two also get their share of poetic justice which they most rightfully earned. The one who comes out the most sympathetic would have to be Macbeth. His instant arousal in the prophecies and submissive behavior toward Lady Macbeth clearly label him as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. “The Norton Shakespeare Volume 2: Later Plays”. New York: W. & W. Norton & Company, 2008. Book.