Often in the works of Shakespeare, seemingly insignificant lines are extremely revealing and vastly important to the themes of the story. At least this is what Mark Van Doren posits in his book Shakespeare. According to Van Doren, these lines and speeches can easily be overlooked due to their apparent irrelevance. However at a closer look, they are ingenious and illustrate the nature and purpose of the play. Van Doren’s thesis is correct as indicated by the quote above, which illustrates the theme of the justice of the universe present in King Lear in a mere seven lines. King Lear is filled with human cruelty and terrible disasters. King Lear disowns his favorite daughter. Kent, the King’s most loyal follower, is exiled for defending Cordelia to Lear. Edmund betrays his brother and deceives his father into making him the heir of Gloucester. King Lear is betrayed by his two wicked daughters, Regan and Goneril. England is falling into turmoil as the power of King Lear dissipates into his disloyal daughters. The setting of King Lear is undeniably morose and rife with catastrophe. As t…
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