As the king finally dies, Edgar speaks to him and Kent admonishes him, wishing to "let him pass" (V.iii.377). Kent understands that the tragedy s over now and King Lear can finally have the peace that he deserves. It should also be noted that in death, Lear also receives the justice he deserves as well. Edgar is still hanging onto the man and does not want him to die just yet but Kent sees the relief in death, noting, He hates him/That would upon the rack of this tough world/Stretch him out any longer" (V.iii.377-9). The two comment on how the king "endured so long" (V.iii.381) his painful life on earth. They knew what it was that the king realized in his final hours. His attitude toward family and material things had been reversed. The king taught them the meaning of value, which was exhibited in the previous scenes with the king and Cordelia. Albany realizes this is a time for mourning and advises them that they will "Rule in this realm, and the gored state sustain" (V.iii.386). The world and that state of the kingdom is one that is gored and wounded and it will take some time for it to heal. Edgar's estimation t the end of the play is one that he hopes all will employ. He states that while the everyone must bear the "weight of this sad time" (V.iii.389), they can at least learn from what they have witnessed. We should "speak what we feel, not what we ought to say" (V.iii.390), he says, admitting that the king suffered more than anyone else and no one left will...
This final scene is filled with melancholy and very little hope and we cannot blame Edgar for feeling this way because of the events that have transpired.
King Lear is a play that looks into many worlds and offers us many interpretations of those worlds. The first world we are introduced to is one that seems quite normal. Two men are discussing the affairs of the kingdom while also discussing their own affairs. They are friendly with one another and see nothing too terribly out of the ordinary. The last world we see in the play is one that is considerably different than the first in that it is dark, depressing, and almost without hope. Shakespeare wishes to convey to us what is significant in this thing we call life and it is certainly not appearances. When Gloucester speaks of his illegitimate son, he does so with a certain degree of respect because regardless of how the man came into the world, he is a blessing to it. He is a good man and Gloucester would not take back any of his actions. This is a much different man than the one we see dying in the final scene that has had to learn the importance of real love in the most painful of ways. We need to learn from this tragedy what is important so we will not have to suffer like Lear did and, if we do this, his life and death will not be a waste.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. King Lear. New York: Washington Square Press. 1969.
