‘Ambitious’ An antagonist characterization in King Lear

by
Ali Mahfud
Abstract
Ambition to get power of any kinds of kingdom is a step which will not be longer step on this world. No long and no more life for this character in the world as it comes from a wrong way.
Keywords: ambition, character, characterization
Introduction
It is not exaggeration to say I think if Toby Widdicombe on his book Simply Shakespeare stated that Words are to Shakespeare what music is to Mozart (the element he live in). In western literature Shakespeare is the symbol of all that is great and good. It can be clearly explain as the beauty of his language, the subtlety of his characterizations, the inclusiveness of his point of view, and the sensationalism of his stories. Moiré than that, his work compels recognition, for it is saying something of universal value to which everyone responds. In essence, Shakespeare tells us more about the paradox of the human condition into which each of us is born than any other writer. (Toby Widdicombe, 2001).
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), who was born into a middle-class family in Stratford-upon-Avon, is one of the phenomenon artists who create many masterpieces of art works. Macbeth and King Lear, Othello, and A Midsummer Night are some of his works which are good to read by everyone, children, adult to old people. king Lear which is here retold by E.F Dodd, BA is a work which is full of good message to be applied in daily life.
This king Lear chosen by the writer to be analyzed is a work which can be good story for us who live in a country which the society have ambition to lead the nation. The reason why the writer chose this short story as the writer think that the society of this country should learn much from it that ambition to lead the country in purpose to get self-exciting than a prosperity for the society itself will no be longer. Here, Shakespeare tries to explain more the effect of being ambitious man.
In Bustami Subhan’s book it is stated that M.H Abrams in his book The mirror and the lamp proposes a theory which is called “Some Co-ordinates of art criticism” (Abrams, 1981:6). According to Abrams, there are four approaches that can be used to study a literary work.
Before understanding Abrams’ theory, a literary critic should be aware that there are four elements in the framework, namely: the work, or the artistic product itself, the artist or the artificer, the universe or nature or society, and the audience or the reader.
Abrams says that a literary critic tends to drive from one of the four approaches for defining, classifying or analyzing a work of art. Abrams’ theory can be explained as follows (2003:30):
First, the approach that focuses the study on the work of art itself is called the objective approach. Second, The approach that focuses the study of the work of art in relation to the universe is called mimetic approach. Third, the approach that focuses the study of the work of art in relation to the writer is called the expressive approach. And the last, the approach that focuses the study of the work of art in relation to the audience is called the pragmatic approach.
In this research the writer uses objective approach which here analyzes the character of Regan, Goneril, and Edmund who are ambitious to rule the kingdom. The elements raised in this writing are character which is included into intrinsic elements of the art work. This article, hopefully, can be a description to the people about a character of ambitious man; his act, behavior, his why to get everything he wants. It also describes the effort to get the power in leading the kingdom. This description will be a brief view for us as the member of nation so that we can recognize character and behavior of an ambitious man. Releasing this, hopefully we are able to stop and or at least run away from this kind of people.
Character and ambitious
One of the elements that build the literary work is intrinsic element. Intrinsic element are elements which build literary work, they are including setting, plot, theme, character and characterization. While the extrinsic element are the element out of a literary text itself for example: education, background of history, socio cultural background, etc (Aminudin: 199:34)
Character, according to Jonathan Culler, is the major aspect of the novel to which structuralism has paid least attention and has been least successful in treating. (1975:230).Characters in the novel (prose, short story, etc) can be divided into two groups: major character or main characters and minor characters. The major character can further be analyzed into three groups: the protagonist, the antagonist, and the companion(s) (Bustami, 2003:8). Protagonist is the very central character or the hero. Antagonist is usually identified as the enemy of protagonist while the companion is the character which comes as the supporter of protagonist.
In this King Lear there are two kinds of characterization, protagonist and antagonist. The protagonist is characterized by Cordelia. She is the youngest daughter of Lear which finally helps her father to get back the kingdom from her two older sisters. Cordelia is the youngest daughter of Lear’s who didn’t get share of kingdom as her speech which is actually interpreted incorrectly. Cordelia is identified as a patient a wise woman. She even though didn’t get the share of kingdom accept it wisely and only begged her two older sisters to take care of her father.
While the second characterization is antagonist, which appears in this tale, was characterized by Goneril, Regan and Edmund who have a big ambition to rule the England kingdom. They are all ambitious people. Goneril, regan, and Edmund is called ambitious here as it is clearly described that those three people do everything to get what they want. The writer calls them as ambitious as they actively seek success, wealth, and status. This characterization is in mutual accord with the definition stated by A. Honrby on Oxford Dictionary. They lie, act cruelly, and are also sadistic. All these characters are identical with the character of antagonist which is ambitious.
Synopsis
Many hundred years ago there was a king of England called Lear. He had ruled his land well and wisely for many years, but now he was growing old and feeble and he left that it was time for the kingdom to pass into youngster hands. So he decided to give up his title.
Lear had no son to succeed him, but he had three daughter, Generil, Regan, and Cordelia, and his plan was divide the kingdom among them. Generil and Regan were already married, Generil to the Duke of Albany, and Regan to the Duke of Cornwall, and there was two visitors to Lear’s court, the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy, both of whom were anxious to marry Lear’s youngest daughter, Cordelia.
Lear had already decided which share of his kingdom was to go to each daughter, but before telling them of his decision he sent for them and asked each in turn whether she truly loved him. Generil answer him first that she loves him more than words can say. She, answering his question, got all of the bounds chosen by Lear.
Regan, the second daughter of his answer that she would only be happy if serving him all of her life and she got half of his kingdom as the result of her answer. Different from her two older sisters, Cordelia could only answer that she loved him as she should have. This made Lear angry as the answer seemed to be worse than her two older sisters. As the result Lear was angry and didn’t give her any share of his kingdom.
Two men whom were anxious to marry Cordelia were asked whether they would stand on their plan, to marry Cordelia who didn’t get any more share of kingdom. Duke of Burgundy gave up but not King of France. He was still on his plan to marry her even though there was no share of Lear’s Kingdom.
Finally Cordelia went to her husband, King of France bringing no share of Lear’s kingdom and king Lear lived with his oldest daughter, Goneril. During staying with his Goneril, he was unhappy and behaved unkindly. This was caused Lear had no anymore power as he had given all share of kingdom to his two daughter. Realizing this unkindness, he decided to leave Goneril to go to his second daughter, Regan but Regan behaved hi same as Goneril did.
Once upon time he decided to go with Earl of Kent to meet Cornelia and say what happen with him during living with her tow older sisters. Knowing this, she asked her husband to send an army to England to fight for King Lear.
King of France, who was the husband of Cornelia went to England bringing army to fight England, Goneril and Regan kingdoms, was unfortunately defeated by England which is led by the Duke of Albany and Cornwall and the wicked Edmund, Claucester’s son who is ambitious to be king.
To England camp, Regan’s husband had died in the battle. Regan who was ambitious announced that she intended to marry Edmund who got the kingdom, defeated France army but Goneril who is ambitious also was angry and jealous. She poisoned her sister, Regan turned against his wife, Goneril. He sent her to prison for her crimes and killed her. Finally Edmund was killed also in battle by hid brother, Edgar.
The Earl of Kent told King Lear this news but King Lear had failed when Cordelia died. He died beside his loved daughter.
In the end of this story the Duke of Albany became king of England as there is no one who was able to lead the kingdom of England. He ruled England well and wisely helped by Edgar, who became Earl of Gloucester when his old father died.
Analysis
In this subtitle, it will be described clearly the words, behaviors, and characteristic of two king Lear daughters who is indicated as an ambitious person.
First, Goneril and Regan tried to make sure their father that they loved him much in order to get the shire of his kingdom. They said what is not same as they feel. Goneril said that she loved him more that words, while Regan said that her father is the only one whom she loved. This really made Lear trust and believe that they would be able to rule England Kingdom and gave them the share of Kingdom.
Second, they didn’t look after their father, king Lear kindly after getting the share of kingdom. She made no effort to attention to her father’s needs and make him comfortable in her palace. She also allowed her own servant to treat the king and his knights with careless rudeness, and they took no notice of his orders, pretending not to hear them. Goneril’s behavior to her father grew daily worse. She was determined to drive him away from her palace by her unkindness, because she didn’t want the trouble and expense of keeping him and his hundred knights.
What Regan did is not so far different from her older sister Goneril. She also treated her father unkindly. She looked after her father as rudely as Gonerilad done and she said that what her sister did to her father was a good reason. She said that Lear was old and should be ruled and led by other who are younger and wiser than himself. She even asked him to go back to her sister and admit that he was wrong.
Third, Regan intended to marry Edmund, Claucester’s son who and had a big ambition to rule England Kingdom, as her husband died.
Fourth, Goneril was angry and jealous when she knew that Regan married with Edmund. She poisoned her sister till died.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis above, it can be concluded what is meant “ambitious” in King Lear. An ambitious man instead of being cruel is also like to do everything to get what he wants. He also has a characteristic which is full of lie, and also sadistic.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Subhan, Bustami. 2003. A guide to Literary Criticism. Yogakarta: LPPDMF
(human beings are emotional creature) New delhi ashish publishing house 2004
181jonatan culler , structuralist poetic,1975the gressan press old waking, surrey england