Letters in King Lear

Letters always serve a wide purpose, whether in life or in literature. A letter can overflow with affection or pedantically state a fact. In literature, the letter’s content, receivers, and circumstances further plot, characterize personages, and advocate themes. In William Shakespeare’s King Lear, the bard uses letters for such reasons. Without letters, entire subplots might not even exist and Goneril’s treachery would not be thoroughly revealed. Importantly, the Bard of Avon employs messages to develop characters and subtly reveal previously-established character traits. Through the numerous letters in King Lear, England’s national poet enforces traits such as loyalty, disloyalty, and heartless ambition.

As King Lear progresses, it is clear which character sides with which faction: Lear’s or Goneril and Regan’s faction. Shakespeare intends his readers to view the characters who side with Lear as loyal and those who side with his villainous daughters as disloyal. The letters’ content and use can help develop the characters’ loyalty or disloyalty. In the case of fealty, Cordelia and Kent are obvious examples, with messages adding on to their characters. In one the first letters sent, Cordelia informs Kent, in stocks, of her plan to fix things. Kent describes the letter as such: “Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,/ That by thy comfortable beams I may/ Peruse this letter. Nothing almost sees miracles/ But misery” (Shakespeare II.ii.166-169). Although the national poet does not reveal the letter’s content itself in this short description, he does reveal, through the letter’s imagery, Cordelia’s faithfulness to Lear. Light imagery begins the passage, with Kent hoping that the beacon, or the sun, and consequently light, will come. This enforces the light versus dark archetype and juxtaposition, with Cordelia’s letter clearly symbolizing light and therefore goodness. But, the sun imagery also implies that Cordelia’s letter is a beacon of hope that shines in this perilous time. The Bard further stresses this in the next sentence, where Kent says that only miserable people like him see miracles. This immediately brings to mind a Christ allusion; Christ was obviously a holy man celebrated for giving the unfortunate hope and happiness. This all comes through when the Bard of Avon reveals that Cordelia, with France, plans to invade England to return Lear to power.

The writer further proves Cordelia’s and Kent’s allegiance with a message Kent sends to Cordelia describing the turmoil Lear goes through. The Gentleman thus describes Cordelia’s reaction: “And now and then an ample tea trilled down/ Her delicate cheek… You have seen Sunshine and rain at once./ Her smiles and tears/ Were like a better way… There she shook/ The holy water from her heavenly eyes” (IV.iii.12-31). Although the above description does not directly relate the letter’s content, one can easily infer it. Once again, the Bard enforces light imagery with the diction of “sunshine,” which “rain” immediately follows. This shows that not only are her tears bright and hopeful, but also healing and cleansing like the rain. Furthermore, the sunshine and rain juxtaposition creates a confusing atmosphere about Cordelia, who is clearly upset and perplexed over the whole situation. The light imagery previously mentioned adds to her Jesus-like and angel characterization and Shakespeare even metaphorically compares her tears to holy water - a clear reference to her angelic persona. Clearly, the Bard reveals Cordelia’s fidelity, but what about Kent’s? If his letter effectively moves Cordelia to tears, then he obviously tells the sad tale as it is and sides with Lear. Shakespeare uses the letter motif for many purposes, and one of them is to clearly reveal character loyalty, as seen in the characters of Cordelia and Kent.

Not only do letters reveal loyalty, but also disloyalty. This is not necessarily disloyalty directly to King Lear, but to characters such as Gloucester, a character who sides with the foolish ruler. In the first letter sent, Edmund treacherously plans to overtake his brother’s position as heir. Gloucester reads the letter:

“This policy and reverence of age makes the world bitter to the best of our times, keeps our fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny, who sways not as it hath may speak more. If our father would sleep till I waked him…” (I.ii.47-54)

This letter, to begin with, reveals Edmund’s framing and betrayal of Edgar. It also reveals signs of betraying his father, Gloucester. Although Edgar’s signature appears, clearly Edmund is the one speaking. In Edmund’s voice, readers can find many instances of bitterness and hate towards his father. Edmund first states how respect for old age makes the world bitter, although Edmund is technically the bitter one and the world might not agree with him. This clear hyperbole emphasizes his hatred of his father and the elderly and how he arrogantly feels as if the world concurs. Edmund further abuses the older generation through his description. Note his diction: “oppression,” “bondage,” “tyranny,” “suffered.” Edmund’s description of the elderly and the power they hold makes them seem like despotic rulers with the younger generation as their slave. This furthers the theme of older versus younger generations prevalent in this play. The final sentence makes clear the plan and desire to kill Gloucester. Since Edmund’s voice is the one speaking, Shakespeare foreshadows Edmund’s eventual betrayal of his father. The playwright uses the letter’s tone and foreshadowing to clearly inform of the betrayal and treachery in Edmund’s character, and other characters as well.

Related to the qualities of loyalty and disloyalty is ambition, especially cold ambition where one does not care about others. The same stated methods expose this through the letters. Although the previously mentioned letters give clear hints of ambition, it is especially evident in a message Edmund writes to a guard asking him to execute Cordelia and King Lear. This shows Edmund’s personal aspiration in that with those two disposed of, he loses two substantial enemies. Because the king upholds Gloucester, his very existence threatens Edmund’s title and power. The national poet does not directly mention the message’s text, but from the description and the conversation that occurs, it drips with ambition: “Know thou this: that men/ Are as the time is. To be tender-minded/ Does not become a sword” (V.iii.31-33). This advice to the captain not only exposes Edmund’s clear personal motivation, but the fact that the captain accepts the offer shows it in the captain too. Edmund says, in the first sentence, that the times are in flux and one must adapt to the change, thereby explaining his disdain towards the elderly. The second sentence shows Edmund’s contempt for soft-heartedness and the phrase “become a sword” denotatively means “suit a warrior.” At the same time, the sword imagery juxtaposes sharply with “tender-minded” and connotatively suggests that Edmund believes one must be harsh and cruel and rule with a sword to succeed. Furthermore, the sword, which is usually associated with killing and murder, foreshadows the eventual death of Goneril and suggests the letter’s contents. Shakespeare presents readers through his clever diction the Machiavellian motivation driving Edmund and his captain.

Goneril’s letter to Edmund asking for Albany’s death shows just about as much ambition. The letter’s full text appears when Edgar reads it:

“Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him off; if your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done if he return the conqueror. Then am I the prisoner, and his bed my jail. From the loathed warmth whereof deliver me and supply the place for your labor.”

In the very first sentence, readers see the words “reciprocal vows.” This conjures up to mind wedding vows. Is Goneril really so presumptuous to act as if she is already married to Edmund? Following that, the words “cut him off” appear, immediately bringing up to mind Edmund’s letter with the word “sword.” It appears that both characters have the same kind of aspiration which involves murder and assassination to achieve one’s goals. She proceeds to describe her husband Albany as a “conqueror” who takes her as “prisoner” inside a “jail,” which she loathes. The fact that the bed is the jail means that not only does Goneril believe Albany imprisons her, but also sexually takes advantage of her. This judicial imagery is replete with irony. Obviously, merciless Goneril is not locked up like a sympathetic prisoner and meritorious Albany would never mistreat his wife. Furthermore, Edmund is far from being the knight in shining armor who supposedly delivers her from jail. It’s probably the other way around, with Albany as prisoner and Goneril as the cruel conqueror. Her clear treachery and dishonesty here is to attain Edmund’s aid, adding that she will surely repay the favor. Indeed, as much as she may try to hide her evil ambition, it clearly comes through in her writing. The Bard structures his letters in such a way to reveal the hidden motives behind the characters and how ruthless ambition can be.

In his King Lear, William Shakespeare uses letters for various purposes. He exercises them as plot devices and subplot introductions. If not for France’s letter sent to Gloucester or Goneril’s letter sent to Edmund, the plot would be completely different. The Bard also employs letters to advance certain themes, such as methods of communication. Gloucester prefers an indirect method with letters, which Edmund exploits, and this method ultimately ruins him. Letters can even act as symbols, representing treachery and deceit. An important function that readers commonly ignore is characterization. Shakespeare wants his readers to pay attention to the plentiful letters, for they reveal crucial character qualities that one cannot ignore. Kent’s writing style and others’ responses to his letters easily exhibit his complete devotion to his lord. At the same time, Gloucester’s cruel deception not only reveals his disloyalty to his father and King Lear, but also his cold-hearted ambition. Goneril’s evil intentions become increasingly obvious as one closely examines the diction, syntax, and imagery. Letters are so much more than a series of words that give information or plead a cause. Truly, the characters’ attributes are in their letters. Literally, one can read them like an open book or an open letter in this case.