Beginning of Essay
King Lear had been discussed by many critics of the play of this name, with some taking the position that he was a tragic hero. However, there are a few who believe that he was not, and that in effect, he might even be a comic figure. This paper attempts to dis ....

Middle of Essay
.... the position taken by Knight is not accurate in describing King Lear. The tragic hero, according to Bradley, is a person who suffers tremendously, whose suffering goes beyond him. The tragic hero also takes the action that produces the suffering and calamity which leads to death. Other characteristics of a tragic hero are as follows. The tragic hero is a person who is of high degree, and his welfare is intimately tied up with the welfare of the state. The hero is an exceptional being, of high degree, whose actions and sufferings are of an unusual kind, who possesses and exceptional nature. His nature is exceptional in the sense that it is ....