To what extent do Albany, Edgar, and Kent continue or break Fortune's Wheel, as mentioned by Edmund in Act 5, Scene 3, Line 185, at the end of the play?
Towards the end of the book, I believe that Albany, Edgar, and Kent all defy Fortune's Wheel as they take their fate into their own hands and put past actions and schemes behind them and focus on the present and make decisions for their own future. After Edmund admits that he is guilty for everything he is accused of, Edgar does not act rashly but rather forgives his deceitful brother: "Let's exchange charity" (V.iii.200). The fact that Edgar is wiling to forgive Edmund after he has made his life a living hell, shows that Edgar is taking matters in to his own hands and not letting Fortune's Wheel decide what happens to he and his brother's relationship. And even though his own father accused him of sabotage and gave an order to have him killed, Edgar "became his guide, led him, begged for him, saved him from despair" (V.iii.226-227). Edgar's forgiving nature towards the people that hurt him most suggests his "breaking" of Fortune's Wheel because he is controlling his reactions to the events around him and not letting the events control him. Similar to Edgar, once Albany discovers the news that Lear's life is literally falling apart, he puts Lear's needs first before even his wife's. Albany demonstrates his respect for Lear when he says, "For us, we will resign During the life of his old majesty To him our absolute power" (V.iii.362-363). The fact that Albany is making the decision himself to temporarily give up his power to Lear, even though he is going mad, suggests that he wants to do everything he can to ease the King's suffering. I would also say that Kent breaks Fortune's wheel because he is not letting his banishment by Lear control him. Kent is not letting the fear of getting caught in disguise stop him from proving his loyalty to Lear. Even Edgar notices Kent's loyalty as he defends him by reminding Lear how in disguise Kent "followed his enemy king [Lear] and did him service improper for a slave" (V.iii.258-260). Given that Kent comes back to Lear after he has been banished and after Lear has gone completely insane suggests his breaking of the wheel because he does not let his fate of banishment stop him from serving his King. Kent even goes so far as to say that he has a "journey to go" as his "master" calls him and he must not say no (V.iii. 390-391). Kent's "journey" to death symbolizes that he is choosing his fate based on what he thinks is right, which is serving his master to death, literally. So, because these characters choose their own fate (Edgar by forgiving, Albany by giving up his power to Lear, and Kent by serving his master to his death) by using their power and not allowing themselves to be controlled by the events around them, I believe they are breaking Fortune's wheel. -Ginny F.
Towards the end of the book, I believe that Albany, Edgar, and Kent all defy Fortune's Wheel as they take their fate into their own hands and put past actions and schemes behind them and focus on the present and make decisions for their own future. After Edmund admits that he is guilty for everything he is accused of, Edgar does not act rashly but rather forgives his deceitful brother: "Let's exchange charity" (V.iii.200). The fact that Edgar is wiling to forgive Edmund after he has made his life a living hell, shows that Edgar is taking matters in to his own hands and not letting Fortune's Wheel decide what happens to he and his brother's relationship. And even though his own father accused him of sabotage and gave an order to have him killed, Edgar "became his guide, led him, begged for him, saved him from despair" (V.iii.226-227). Edgar's forgiving nature towards the people that hurt him most suggests his "breaking" of Fortune's Wheel because he is controlling his reactions to the events around him and not letting the events control him.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to Edgar, once Albany discovers the news that Lear's life is literally falling apart, he puts Lear's needs first before even his wife's. Albany demonstrates his respect for Lear when he says, "For us, we will resign During the life of his old majesty To him our absolute power" (V.iii.362-363). The fact that Albany is making the decision himself to temporarily give up his power to Lear, even though he is going mad, suggests that he wants to do everything he can to ease the King's suffering.
I would also say that Kent breaks Fortune's wheel because he is not letting his banishment by Lear control him. Kent is not letting the fear of getting caught in disguise stop him from proving his loyalty to Lear. Even Edgar notices Kent's loyalty as he defends him by reminding Lear how in disguise Kent "followed his enemy king [Lear] and did him service improper for a slave" (V.iii.258-260). Given that Kent comes back to Lear after he has been banished and after Lear has gone completely insane suggests his breaking of the wheel because he does not let his fate of banishment stop him from serving his King. Kent even goes so far as to say that he has a "journey to go" as his "master" calls him and he must not say no (V.iii. 390-391). Kent's "journey" to death symbolizes that he is choosing his fate based on what he thinks is right, which is serving his master to death, literally.
So, because these characters choose their own fate (Edgar by forgiving, Albany by giving up his power to Lear, and Kent by serving his master to his death) by using their power and not allowing themselves to be controlled by the events around them, I believe they are breaking Fortune's wheel.
-Ginny F.