In King Lear, Shakespeare uses the themes of the knowledge of oneself and the development of this knowledge to highlight human frailties and strengths. The character of King Lear particularly embodies this. Throughout the play, Lear matures and gains a greater knowledge of him self in a process that torments, enlightens and eventually benefits him. However, through the cruel, unselective nature of life and the actions of his self-seeking daughters Gonerill and Regan that Lear finally comes to grips with the world, and this wounds him deeply. The death of Lear's youngest daughter Cordelia negates Lear's newfound knowledge by causing his own death through heartbreak.

In Act I, Scene I, the audience is first introduced to the character of King Lear. It is obvious that he is a self-centered, egocentric man, who is blind to the true nature of many facets of life. The rifts in Lear's self-knowledge...