The Passion of Lear

Abstract

In King Lear, feelings—especially pity and anger—are morally significant because, by motivating human behavior, affecting individuals’ attitudes, and shaping people’s ability to judge situations, they can undermine the construction of order in a community and bring harm to its members. By considering gender, the consequences of characters’ feelings and actions, and the writings of various Greek and Roman authors, I formulate three interconnected arguments that address critics’ assessments of feelings in the play and foster original insights into the play’s characters and moral implications. One, Lear does not embrace pity, because he pursues justice and power. However, two, the play does not endorse Lear’s pursuit, because it is not driven by reason. Three, King Lear endorses Stoicism by illustrating both the moral and practical dangers that emanate from pity and the decisive role of reason in creating an ordered and just society.