King Lear and The Absentee
In both William Shakespeare’s King Lear and Maria Edgeworth’s The Absentee, the problem of illegitimacy and the complications it causes are examined. The issue of illegitimacy becomes a controlling factor in both works as illegitimate characters are placed in pivotal roles. The presentation of such characters as Edmund in King Lear and Grace Nugent in The Absentee, enable both Shakespeare and Edgeworth to comment on the position of illegitimacy in their respective eras. Much of the action of the plots is built around the interplay of these characters with other characters and how they are viewed with respect to their roles in their families. It is the complications of the illegitimacy that create tensions in both families.
In King Lear, the entirety of the plot is revealed through dialogs between characters. Various speeches in the dialogs examine how family members are connected. One family in particular is that of the Earl of Gloucester. His two sons, Edgar and Edmund, both vie to be the heir to Gloucester’s wealth and power. Edgar, the legitimate son, is despised by Edmund, the illegitimate son. In his speech in Act I, Scene 2, Edmund’s illegitimacy becomes his fury, as he expresses his utter aggravation toward Edgar and the notions of illegitimacy. He says:
...Why Bastard? wherefore base?
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honest madam’s issue? Why brand they us
with base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?
...
Well then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land.
Our father’s love is to the bastard Edmund
As to the legitimate. Fine word “legitimate!”
Well my legitimate...
...
Edmund the base shall top the legitimate...
Clearly, Edmund finds himself at odds with Edgar because he cannot inherit anything and he scorns the societal views on illegitimacy. Edmund feels slighted, as he is viewed as the “bastard son” of the family.
As half brothers, both Edgar and Edmund lay claim to Gloucester’s wealth. Lawfully, Edgar is the true heir. Edmund, however, refuses to concede to this. In Edmund’s mind, he is superior to his brother in all things. From strength to beauty, Edmund sees little that is good about Edgar.
Edmund’s illegitimacy is a controlling factor in the life of his family. It has divisive qualities. In and of itself, the illegitimacy divides the brothers biologically. However, the more important division is that one caused by Edmund’s attitude in general. As a consequence, he pits himself against his brother.
Edmund manipulates the unknowing Edgar. Guilty of nothing, Edgar is innocent both in deed and knowledge. He does not realize his brother’s scheme, and thus takes Edmund’s advice when he is told to flee.
In Maria Edgeworth’s The Absentee, illegitimacy plays a similar role, while, at the same time, taking on a whole new meaning. Just as in King Lear, illegitimacy has divisive qualities. However, in the case of The Absentee, the focus is not on obtaining a parent’s wealth, but getting married.
Throughout the novel, Lord Colambre’s mother suggests that he court Miss Broadhurst. Instead he wishes to court his cousin, Grace Nugent. Attracted by her charm, all is well until he learns of her illegitimacy. With the knowledge that Grace’s mother had an affair with Captain Reynolds, and that Grace was his daughter, he acknowledges the fact that he cannot marry her.
The issue is resolved by the end of the novel. Colambre obtains the secret marriage certificate of Captain Reynolds and Grace’s mother, therefore proving Grace’s legitimacy. With this in hand, he resumes his desire to marry Grace, Grace assumes her rightful place as an heiress, and they agree to marry.
Just as it was for Edmund, the notion of illegitimacy becomes a controlling factor in the lives of Grace and Colambre. It is interesting to note the change in attitude for Lord Colambre. Although his feelings for her do not change, he denies their existence. In fact, “Colambre had the greatest dread of marrying any woman whose mother had conducted herself ill” (112).
The divisive qualities of illegitimacy affect marriage in the novel. Whereas in King Lear, the problem of illegitimacy was linked to who should be the heir, the problem in The Absentee is linked to the marriage of Grace and Colambre. Colambre’s refusal to marry Grace is a statement about the notions of illegitimacy at the time.
As a consequence of her illegitimacy, the idea of “heiress” also presents a problem for Grace Nugent. Lacking the knowledge of his parents’ marriage, Grace is nothing in her society. She is without a title and does not have a dowry.
By the end of the novel, however, the issue of her legitimacy is resolved. The marriage certificate is revealed and her legitimacy is proven.
As stated earlier, the issue of illegitimacy controls much of the lives of the characters in both works. It creates certain situations for both Edmund and Grace, and these situations are particular to their location in time.
Illegitimacy places Edmund in an awkward position. As a result of his illegitimacy, he has nothing as far as wealth and power are concerned. These go to his half-brother Edgar. In a time where one’s inheritance is a leading concern, Edmund finds himself empty-handed. As such, he is nothing in society. He is only second to Edgar. To a man who holds himself to be the superior of the two, Edmund is infuriated. As a result he endeavors to gain the inheritance.
An inherent problem is created by Gloucester’s handling of the Edgar-Edmund situation. Gloucester does nothing in relation to his sons in the way of raising them together. In fact, he finds it humorous at times.
In contrast, Grace’s place in time allows for her to have something, even though she is thought of as illegitimate. In other words, she can still find someone. Her situation is not as limited as Edmund’s. She has a larger basket of opportunity from which to draw.
Perhaps her situation is eased by the fact that there are individuals who participate in her life. Unlike Edgar and Edmund, she has someone to help her situation. Her mother marries Mr. Nugent, and he adopts her as his own.
In both King Lear and The Absentee, illegitimacy is a predominant characteristic that controls much of the action. It is a passive catalyst that manipulates and shapes the lives of the characters in both works. It is its nature that affects everything from the individuals themselves to the family as a whole.
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In King Lear, the entirety of the plot is revealed through dialogs between characters. Various speeches in the dialogs examine how family members are connected. One family in particular is that of the Earl of Gloucester. His two sons, Edgar and Edmund, both vie to be the heir to Gloucester’s wealth and power. Edgar, the legitimate son, is despised by Edmund, the illegitimate son. In his speech in Act I, Scene 2, Edmund’s illegitimacy becomes his fury, as he expresses his utter aggravation toward Edgar and the notions of illegitimacy. He says:
...Why Bastard? wherefore base?
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honest madam’s issue? Why brand they us
with base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?
...
Well then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land.
Our father’s love is to the bastard Edmund
As to the legitimate. Fine word “legitimate!”
Well my legitimate...
...
Edmund the base shall top the legitimate...
Clearly, Edmund finds himself at odds with Edgar because he cannot inherit anything and he scorns the societal views on illegitimacy. Edmund feels slighted, as he is viewed as the “bastard son” of the family.
As half brothers, both Edgar and Edmund lay claim to Gloucester’s wealth. Lawfully, Edgar is the true heir. Edmund, however, refuses to concede to this. In Edmund’s mind, he is superior to his brother in all things. From strength to beauty, Edmund sees little that is good about Edgar.
Edmund’s illegitimacy is a controlling factor in the life of his family. It has divisive qualities. In and of itself, the illegitimacy divides the brothers biologically. However, the more important division is that one caused by Edmund’s attitude in general. As a consequence, he pits himself against his brother.
Edmund manipulates the unknowing Edgar. Guilty of nothing, Edgar is innocent both in deed and knowledge. He does not realize his brother’s scheme, and thus takes Edmund’s advice when he is told to flee.
In Maria Edgeworth’s The Absentee, illegitimacy plays a similar role, while, at the same time, taking on a whole new meaning. Just as in King Lear, illegitimacy has divisive qualities. However, in the case of The Absentee, the focus is not on obtaining a parent’s wealth, but getting married.
Throughout the novel, Lord Colambre’s mother suggests that he court Miss Broadhurst. Instead he wishes to court his cousin, Grace Nugent. Attracted by her charm, all is well until he learns of her illegitimacy. With the knowledge that Grace’s mother had an affair with Captain Reynolds, and that Grace was his daughter, he acknowledges the fact that he cannot marry her.
The issue is resolved by the end of the novel. Colambre obtains the secret marriage certificate of Captain Reynolds and Grace’s mother, therefore proving Grace’s legitimacy. With this in hand, he resumes his desire to marry Grace, Grace assumes her rightful place as an heiress, and they agree to marry.
Just as it was for Edmund, the notion of illegitimacy becomes a controlling factor in the lives of Grace and Colambre. It is interesting to note the change in attitude for Lord Colambre. Although his feelings for her do not change, he denies their existence. In fact, “Colambre had the greatest dread of marrying any woman whose mother had conducted herself ill” (112).
The divisive qualities of illegitimacy affect marriage in the novel. Whereas in King Lear, the problem of illegitimacy was linked to who should be the heir, the problem in The Absentee is linked to the marriage of Grace and Colambre. Colambre’s refusal to marry Grace is a statement about the notions of illegitimacy at the time.
As a consequence of her illegitimacy, the idea of “heiress” also presents a problem for Grace Nugent. Lacking the knowledge of his parents’ marriage, Grace is nothing in her society. She is without a title and does not have a dowry.
By the end of the novel, however, the issue of her legitimacy is resolved. The marriage certificate is revealed and her legitimacy is proven.
As stated earlier, the issue of illegitimacy controls much of the lives of the characters in both works. It creates certain situations for both Edmund and Grace, and these situations are particular to their location in time.
Illegitimacy places Edmund in an awkward position. As a result of his illegitimacy, he has nothing as far as wealth and power are concerned. These go to his half-brother Edgar. In a time where one’s inheritance is a leading concern, Edmund finds himself empty-handed. As such, he is nothing in society. He is only second to Edgar. To a man who holds himself to be the superior of the two, Edmund is infuriated. As a result he endeavors to gain the inheritance.
An inherent problem is created by Gloucester’s handling of the Edgar-Edmund situation. Gloucester does nothing in relation to his sons in the way of raising them together. In fact, he finds it humorous at times.
In contrast, Grace’s place in time allows for her to have something, even though she is thought of as illegitimate. In other words, she can still find someone. Her situation is not as limited as Edmund’s. She has a larger basket of opportunity from which to draw.
Perhaps her situation is eased by the fact that there are individuals who participate in her life. Unlike Edgar and Edmund, she has someone to help her situation. Her mother marries Mr. Nugent, and he adopts her as his own.
In both King Lear and The Absentee, illegitimacy is a predominant characteristic that controls much of the action. It is a passive catalyst that manipulates and shapes the lives of the characters in both works. It is its nature that affects everything from the individuals themselves to the family as a whole.
Labels: Academic Papers
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