"How does Act 5 fit our expectation of a Shakespearean tragedy?"

Shakespeare wrote King Lear in 1605 or 1606 when he was already a successful playwright. It is one of his many tragedies, although it includes some differences. Nevertheless, following a classical model, the fifth act is used to bring a conclusion to the play, thus the audience expects the events to be wound up, with justice done and right restored. According to Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, a tragedy should arouse emotions of pity and fear; King Lear can be put in parallel to these thoughts.

First and foremost, a tragic story generally leads to, and includes the death of a hero. In King Lear, the protagonist dies in the last scene of the play following great suffering and apparent fatality. Nevertheless, what is particular about the hero in a Shakespearean tragedy is his ability to resist many harsh events, as Kent outlines it in Act 5 of King Lear: "The wonder is he hath endured so long. He has but usurped......

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Title: King Lear Act V
Approximate Word Count: 1396
Approximate Pages: 6 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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