Although this play relies heavily upon the development and movement of the plot, the characterization should not be overlooked. King Lear is an intriguing character because of the psychological dimension that Shakespeare gives him. Shakespeare often centralizes his tragedies on a dominant and powerful emotion that overwhelms his protagonist: Macbeth is defeated by his own ambition, and Hamlet succumbs to his melancholy and indecision. With Lear the emotion is anger. No one is able to prevent a highly-charged emotional state from overpowering his reason. Lear’s great age makes plausible the possibility of this particular emotion becoming dominant. Moreover, the subsequent descent into madness enhances the character as well as contributing to the idea of establishing the strong connection among emotion, irrational thought, foolish behavior, and loss of sanity. Even the mind of a strong and wise king can be fragile and vulnerable to emotion.
Other characters in the play also transcend their mythological roots as stock characters. Although Goneril and Regan and Edmund are quite bad or evil and although Cordelia and Edgar are their good and moral counterparts, Shakespeare adds depth to all of them. Goneril and Regan’s desire and quest for power and authority becomes supplanted by lust and jealousy. There is a definite dynamic quality to their characters. The intricate relationship between the two sisters and Edmund also contributes to their characterization. Audiences are subtly forced to compare and contrast these characters and to note the parallels that exist among them. Edmund’s final attempt to do some good in the last scene parallels, somewhat, Goneril’s confession (made offstage). The characters are not totally evil, for they regret their evil actions. But that regret comes too late. Important in the performance of these parts is that actors need to make their characters both attractive and alluring on the one hand and repulsive and dreadful on the other. The parts should not be performed as if the characters had just stepped from the pages of a fairly tale. Edmund’s social criticism regarding the treatment of illegitimate children is also an important part of his character to establish some degree of audience sympathy with him.