Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-01-02

An Essay Deliveries By Eugene r. wstAsn,
Esq, before ths Yhilemashisn seeis-
ty Of 81. jehn's College, Annape-
lis. On the 18th Of Deem
Der. 1873.

Tho character of Lear is one well
worthy Of our careful study and atten-
tion. II is, indeed, the grandest crea-
ton OF that master mind Of all ages,
Shakespeare, whose works will remain
as a lasting monument Of his fame so
long as The English language shall cx-
ist; Shakespeare, who for loftiness oi
conception, beauty Of style. and thor
ough insight into human nature, its frail-
ties and weaknesses, its most minute
turns and workings. stands alone pro-
dizzy in the worlds history. All others
appear insignificant when compared
with him. as do dwarfs when compared
with giants. Beside his works, and
especially Lear, the ersndess works OF
Engliss literature appear tame and stiff.
But 20 attempt TO add aught 10 the halo
Of glory which surrounds his name is to
attempt
"TO gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To lend perfume 70 the violet"
To return to my subject, let US view the
character OF Lear as il is drawn before
US in the tragedy. Lear. as first pre-
sented 10 us, rs vain, weak old man.
who has been from early youth the head
Of mighty realm. He has been wise
and good ruler, strong in reason, in just
feeling and reciitude Of purpose, but his
once vigorous mind which was wont &c
sIft and examine things thoroughly, has
now become paralyzed through age and
the cares Of his Kingdom. We see in
him something Of a constitutional rash
ness of temper, fostered by the indul-
gences and batteries incident TO his sta
ton, and which is now, through the
cripplings Of age, about 10 break loose
from all restraints. Lear himself seems
to be conscious OF his failing powers,
and hence il is he determines upon alb
dication and a division of his kingdom.
The very first lines OF the play inform
us that the division Of the kingdom has
already been resolved upon, the terms
of division arranged and the several
portions allotted. This fact should be
noted, inasmuch as il goes far to inter-
pret the subsequent action. II clearly
shows the trial Of professions 10 be but
a silly trick Of the old Kings, designed,
perhaps, to surprise his daughters into
expressions OF love which filial nodes
" would else prevent. Lear has an
intense longing after outward tokens Of
affection. He is not content to know
that heart beats for him. but demands
TO know and count its beatings. This
Is, indeed, a selfish love, but is lt not
the selfishness Of q loving and generous
natures And Lear naturally looks for
the greatest professions from her whom
he himself most deeply loves, and hence
his disappointment is the more acute
when he finds his trick fail. After he
has heard and believed the highly ex-
aggerated professions of his two daugh-
ters, Goneril and Regan, he turns TO
Cordelia, his youngest and most be-
loved daughter. her whom he looks 10 as
the nurse Of his age, aud " hen she, 6lled
with ruthless disgust al the hypocrisy Of
her sisters. answers, Nothing" behold
bis astonishment. his short and hurried
sentences, his retained breath, and then
the storm of passion which follows.
HIS deep and Iervent love for Cordelia
~, in a moment, transformed snto ba-
tired. He casts her forth from hls house
and heart forever. He calls down upon
her devoted head the curses Of heaven.
After this violent and headstrong acl
nothing would be capable of redeeming
him from our severest censure, but his
subsequent misfortunes, and these toe
brought on by the base conduct of bis
ungrateial aud unnatural daughters;
those to whom he had given all his
earthly possessions and whom, now that
he was, as he supposed, bereft Of Cor
della, he looked to as the sole comfort
ers and protectors Of his old age. But
how soon is his hope to be dashed TO
the ground. how soon is he 10 be spurned
and insulted by these very children
Goneril IS the 6rst to openly insult her
old father. She puts upon him slight
after slight, but he in bis magnanimity
sees them not or rather if he sees
them he attributes them to his own
jealous nature rather than to any Inten.
tional design on her part. Even when
his attention 10 called to this by one o
his knights. whose keenerj judgment ha.
perceived the lack of ceremonies ans
Businesses which were wont to be be.
slowed on The old K,ng, he puts i
aside lightly and calls for his fool; tha
one being alone who ever had power d