It has always been in human nature to want to progress. Wherever we go, we always hear about the “next big thing,” whether it be a new smartphone or a breakthrough in medicine that touches on many social issues, bringing up a debate on whether or not the end justifies the means. This will for progress sometimes ends with negative results, however, no matter what the original intention may have been. There are many examples in Shakespeare’s King Lear that expertly demonstrates that, although the goal may be aiming for improvement or progress, the end does not justify the means.
In King Lear, one of the most famous quotes is said by the Duke of Albany, who is married to Goneril. After Goneril has driven away her father, King Lear, from her home, she talks with Albany, who says, “striving to better, oft we mar what’s well” (1. 4. 342). This quote carries significant weight in the play, when many of the characters are seen acting in the name of bettering themselves or others, but wind up suffering, or causing suffering because of it.
One example of a character who acts with good intentions is King Lear, when he decided to split his kingdom between his three daughters, on the condition that they tell him how much they love him. Goneril says that she loves Lear “more than word can wield the matter” (1. 1. 55), while Regan says that “[Goneril] names my very deed of love. / Only she comes too short, I profess” (1. 1. 71–72). These quote show that they are trying to please their father to play along with his game, and Lear gives both of them each a share of his kingdom.
However, this turns out to be a bad move on Lear’s part, as in the end, Goneril and Regan betray him, stripping him of his power and personal integrity. Lear eventually find out when, after leaving Goneril in frustration, he ends up at Gloucester’s, where Regan and Goneril are there. Lear is shocked that his daughters are not following the instructions in his inheritance, saying, “[I] made you my guardians, my depositaries, / But kept a reservation to be followed / With such a number” (2. 4. 272-74).
This shows that, although Lear is kind in dividing his kingdom amongst his daughters, they never intended to follow his instructions, instead plotting to get rid of Lear. This shows that, although he had good intentions, Lear’s action caused far more trouble than it should have. Lear’s youngest daughter, Cordelia, meets a similarly tragic end in being good. While her sisters were able to give flattering, albeit empty, words of praise to Lear, Cordelia says that she “cannot heave / My heart into my mouth” (1. 1. 92–93).
She tells Lear that she loves him only as much as she is required to, and that her sisters gave only false words to appease him. Lear, who has never had someone openly defy him, proclaims: Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Be as well neighboured, pitied, and relieved, As thou my sometime daughter. (1. 1. 116–23) Kent, a loyal follower of Lear, speaks up in Cordelia’s defence, saying that Lear is acting rashly.
He asks Lear to rethink his decision, calling it rash,, and that Cordelia does not love him the least. This ends poorly for Kent, as he is then banished from the kingdom, while Cordelia, although she is now disowned, still marries the King of France, and goes to live with him. Lear’s decision to disown Cordelia turns out to be a horrible one, as she was the only one truthful about her love to her father. Without Cordelia, Lear is forced to live with one of Goneril or Regan. However, both Goneril and Regan are plotting against Lear, and end up leaving him stripped of his power and integrity.
Cordelia was the only to be honest, and although it is generally a good trait to have, her honesty towards Lear is what causes her to be disowned. This shows Albany’s quote, as the family was fine before, but when Lear was “striving to better,” he made what he already had worse. In the end, however, being disowned is the least of Cordelia’s problems. When the French are defeated by the English forces led by Edmund, Lear and Cordelia are captured. When they are confronted by Edmund, they are sentenced to prison. Edmund then orders a guard to execute them, before Edgar can intervene.
Cordelia is killed before she can be freed, and Lear dies of a broken heart. This shows that, had Cordelia done what her father had asked rather than saying nothing, she would have led a better life. The characters in King Lear that act for self-gain also cause grief for others. One example of such a character is Edmund, who was born illegitimately to the Earl of Gloucester. Edmund resents his status as a bastard, and even though he is still loved by his father, his illegitimacy, along with the fact that he is younger than his brother Edgar, makes him unlikely to inherit anything of value from his father, Gloucester.
In his soliloquy, Edmund says, 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, if this letter speed, And my intention thrive, Edmund as the base Shall top the legitimate. (1. 2. 16–21) This quote shows that Edmund wants the entire inheritance for himself, and that he is about to hatch a plan in order to “top the legitimate,” or to get the better of Edgar. However, Edmund’s plan causes grief among many of the other major characters.
During Edmund’s rise to power, Edgar is forced into hiding, and his father is branded a traitor. Gloucester’s eyes are put out when he is caught by Regan and Cornwall, and dies later in the play, knowing what Edmund has done. It is Edmund who orders the death of Cordelia, Lear’s youngest daughter, and Lear. It is also because of him that Goneril and Regan are both dead, due to his promise of marriage to both of them causes them to fight over him, and ends up with Regan being poisoned, and Goneril committing suicide.
Edmund’s power is short-lived, as he is defeated by Edgar shortly after taking the power for himself. Edmund realizes that what he has done is wrong, saying, “I pant for life. Some good I mean to do, / Despite of mine own nature” (5. 3. 280–81). In saying this, Edmund recognizes that the end results did not justify his actions, and that he wishes to repent for his wrongdoings. This is another example of how Albany’s quote comes into play, as when Edmund is “striving to better,” and become better than his brother, he made what was fine before into a tragedy.
Two other characters in King Lear working for self-gain are Goneril and Regan. Both have the same motive: to take all the power for themselves, usually at the expense of the other. In the beginning, they are seen to be working together, but towards the later parts of King Lear, it is shown that they are competing each other for Edmund. When Edgar defeats Goneril’s servant, Oswald, he finds a letter that Goneril has addressed to Edmund, revealing a plot against her husband Albany in order to have Edmund’s hand in marriage. The letter reads: 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 gaol. From the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour. (4. 6. 278-83) This shows that Goneril sees herself as Albany’ prisoner, and wished for Edmund to free her from that. In doing so, she poisons Regan, who had claimed Edmund as her husband. Albany steps in and reveals that he knew of her plot against his life, and Goneril rushes away in desperation, and commits suicide.
This shows that Goneril and Regan, both who wanted to improve their status, were willing to do anything to get it, even poisoning each other. This is another example of how the end did not justify the means, as it ended horribly for both Goneril and Regan. The inherent human nature to always want the best is what causes the downfall of many of the characters in King Lear. As in Albany’s quote, many of the characters demonstrate that when they “[strive] to better,” they tend to take what was well before and cause chaos. King Lear shows us that, although intentions may be good, sometimes, the process and the means do not justify it.