Osman Kayaurun 010201002

THE THEME OF INGRATITUDE IN KING LEAR and THE TRIGON

Drama is a kind of literary genre, which can be in prose or verse composition. A drama play generally deals with a serious story, that is intended for representation by actors impersonating the characters and performing the dialogue and action1. Drama is one of the oldest literary genres in the literary history that means drama has a long history. There are some common themes in drama plays. Some of these themes; death, unacceptable love, loss of power, disloyalty, ingratitude etc... Since drama deals with serious and common social subjects and themes, all the time there are some similarities in these plays. On the other hand, there are some differences in drama plays. In this paper, I will discuss the two plays which are King Lear and The Trigon under the light of the theme of ingratitude. King Lear is tragedy that written by William Shakespeare. The Trigon is a modernist play, whose author is James Broom Lynne. William Shakespeare is one of the most important playwrights in the literary world. He lived in Elizabethan period. W. Shakespeare has many important plays, which are tragedies, comedies and historical plays. James Broom Lynne is a modern drama author. He starts his career as a professional designer and illustrator, then after some years, Lynne starts to write drama. Firstly, I'm going to concentrate on the similarities between King Lear and The Trigon. The first similarity of King Lear and The Trigon is about their genre and the themes. Genre of both plays is drama and they are serious plays in other words; the plays are tragedies or problematic plays. Actually, King Lear is one of the greatest four tragedies (other greatest tragedies are; Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet) that are written by William Shakespeare. King Lear is a tragedy, in which a father (King Lear) has problems with his 2 of his three daughters after he divides his countries between them. The problematic daughters are Goneril and Regan, on the other hand, Cordelia (the youngest daughter) shows her real, naive and sincere feelings without any exaggeration and the father King Lear does not give any land to her. The Trigon is a play that about the relationships among four characters; Arthur, Basil, Mabel and Charles. Arthur and Basil are home-mates and have good relationship. Mabel, who is the only female character in the play, likes both of these men and is a good friend of them. Charles is an evil character in the play. He becomes the home-mate with Arthur and Basil after
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http://www.thefreedictionary.com/drama

Osman Kayaurun 010201002 he sees their advertisement. Charles causes quarrels between Arthur and Basil, then, affects Mabel and causes to go out from the house. In both of these plays; people who lost their power and former position face to ingratitude and trickery. Evil characters not only in King Lear but also in The Trigon express his/her ideas to other people in an exaggerative manner. Behaves of these evil characters are also exaggerative, actually these are trickery.
Goneril: I love you than words can wield the matter; Dearer than eyesight, space and liberty; Beyond what can valued, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour, As much as child o'er loved, or father found; I love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; Beyond all manner of so much I love you. (Act I, Scene I, Lines: 57-63) King Lear Regan: I am made of that self metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find she names my very dead of love; Only she comes too short,-that I profess Myself an enemy to all other joys, Which the most precious square of sense possesses; And find I am alone felicitate In your dear highness' love (Act I, Scene I, Lines: 71-78) King Lear

In the above speeches, both evil daughters of King Lear trick their father in an exaggerate manner. Both Goneril and Regan express, show their love not with real words because they intend to trick King Lear and get more inheritance. Since they are evil characters in the play, they do not care to tell lie to others even to their father, King Lear. Not only Goneril but also Regan use hyperbole in their speeches to persuade their father on their absolute love. Speaking in exaggerate manner is one of the common qualities of the trickster. Such persons always show a real situation in a different way, otherwise the trickster cannot be successful.
Charles: I would like to suggest that you allow me to furnish you with a really magnificent multiple-purpose machine. A television set with automatic contrast control, with new stereo sound realism in which, with the new high-sensitivity valves and circuit design, there will be no disparity due to weakness of signal. (Act I, Scene I) The Trigon

Osman Kayaurun 010201002 The above lines are spoken by the evil character (Charles) of The Trigon. Like Goneril and Regan who are the evil characters in the King Lear that is an Elizabethan play, Charles the evil character in The Trigon, which is modern play, uses language in an exaggerate manner to trick Arthur and Basil. In this speech, Charles offers to Arthur and Basil to bring a new and good television. Charles speaks to them knowing their weak sides and their necessities.
Charles: Ill get it then. What marvellous evenings well have. Well watch a play. Have a snack; and then settle down to a concert. A symphony, perhaps-or some chamber music. A round of Guinnesses and then, if we have any time left, well round the evening off with one or two of our favourite records. (Act I, Scene I) The Trigon

Charles tells to Arthur and Basil that they will have perfect evenings. After this speech, it can be said that Charles guarantees his being home-mate with them. If Charles does not introduce himself as a different person, he cannot be accepted as home-mate. In other words, Charles cannot trick Arthur and Basil without such an exaggerate language. It is very clear that evil characters know how to appeal to the victims emotions, so the evil characters make believe the victims easily.
King Lear: Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, With shadowy forests and with champains richd, With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, We make thee lady; to thine and Albanys issue Be this perpetual (Act I, Scene I, Lines: 65-69) King Lear King Lear: To thee and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our kingdom, No less in space, validity, and pleasure, Than that conferrd on Goneril.. (Act I, Scene I, Lines: 81-84) King Lear

In both of the above speeches, we observe that King Lear believes that his daughters (Goneril and Regan) love him very much so he inherits his kingdom to them. Since King Lear is tricked by the exaggerate manner of his daughters, he persuades to give his kingdom without thinking his future. King Lear thinks that his daughters will look after him whenever he needs. Language, which is used in the above speeches of King Lear, has same manner, tone because King Lear is persuaded by his daughters on their sincere love.

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Basil: (Turning on Arthur) Why shouldnt we have something that really works? Are you serious about this machine? Charles: So serious that, I promise you, it will be installed before the week is out. Basil: Thats settled then. Id like it very much. Charles: Arthur? Arthur: I didnt want to impose on you. Charles: There is no imposition. Arthur: Id like to think about it. Basil: For Gods sake lets not think about it! Or nothing will happen. (Act I, Scene I) The Trigon

The victims (Arthur and Basil) of The Trigon are affected by the manner of Charles. So, Arthur and Basil believe him easily without criticising him. Basil is affected by Charles so much that he disagrees with Arthur about the new television. It is a very clear indication that they are persuaded, tricked by evil character, Charles. After this dialogue the effect of Charles on the victim characters, Arthur and Basil, is seen easily. Moreover, Charles becomes dominant character on Arthur and Basil.
Charles: They asked me to take over the responsibility of paying the rent. Basils idea.. (Act I, Scene II) The Trigon

This speech of Charles is an absolute proof on the Charles effects on Arthur and especially Basil. They give the responsibility of paying rent to Charles however; he is a newcomer to the house.
Charles: Im aware of you. Mabel: What does that mean? Charles (Goes to her): It means that I know you exactly how your face is shaped. (Holds her chin.)- That you have lips that show much more than you imagine. (Act I, Scene II) The Trigon

The above dialogue may be the indication of the most important and cruellest ingratitude in the play. Charles affects Mabel (the only female character in the play) and makes believe her about his sincere love to Mabel. Charles uses his mimics, gestures to affect Mabel, indeed he does.

Arthur: Charles? Were back! (Goes to the bedroom door, opens it and peers in.) Charles? (Takes one step forward, then retreats in horror as Mabels

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voice screams out at him from the concealment of the bedroom.) Mabel: Get out! Damn you! Damn you! Get out! Get out! (Basils face drains of colour as ARTHUR continues to back away from the bedroom door and the curtain slowly falls.) (Act II, Scene II)

These dialogues take place at the end of the Act II, Scene II. These speeches are very complex since there are both victim character and two dimensional ingratitude. First, Mabel is not only a victim character who is tricked by Charles but also she is an ingratitude person to Arthur and Basil. Second, Charles is an absolute evil character. There is first realization of his being ingratitude, evil character.
Goneril: Never afflict yourself to know the cause; But let his disposition have that scope That dotage gives it. (Act I, Scene IV, Lines: 315-317) King Lear

In these three lines, Goneril shows her real face, intention to her father. After she gets inheritance from her father, she does not need to hide her real character, so, she behaves to King Lear in an unkind manner. Since Goneril gets what she wants (inheritance), she does not care her father and she even condemns King Lear. Goneril is the first daughter, who shows her real attitude to King Lear. Actually, since Goneril is the oldest daughter she was the first in getting heritance, and it is very normal that she is the first daughter to show her real attitude. After Regans short speech to her father, King Lear realizes that she does not love him sincerely.
Regan: Not altogether so: I lookd not for you yet, nor am provided For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister; For those that mingle reason with your passion Must be content to think you old, and soBut she knows what she does. (Act II, Scene IV, Lines: 235-240) King Lear

The other daughter of King Lear also shows her real face after she gets inheritance. She does not accept her father to the home, and advises that King Lear should obey the rules of Goneril. Like her evil sister (Goneril), Regan also does nor care her father because she is aware that King Lear does not have any inheritance. Since Regan thinks that King Lear is useless for her, she does not accept him to her home. Actually, behaving in this manner is Regans real manner but she hides her characteristic before she gets inheritance. These lines

Osman Kayaurun 010201002 can be regarded as the realization of the real love of Regan, in other words the realization of King Lear.
Regan: This house is little; the old man and his people Cannot be well bestowd. Goneril: Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest, And must needs taste his folly. Regan: For his particular, Ill receive him gladly. But not one follower. Goneril: So am I purposd.. (Act II, Scene IV, Lines: 292-296) King Lear

In the above dialogue, evil sisters (Goneril and Regan) try to show logical reasons for their behaviour. They expel their father from the house. Actually, Goneril and Regan do not love their father, King Lear, sincerely even before the inheritance. On the other hand, the sisters have to pretend that they love their father very much.
Charles: (Suddenly) What do you want me to say? Must I list the actions we can commit together?..... (Act III)

In the above line and rest part of the play, Charles shows his real face to all other characters; Arthur, Basil and Mabel. He does not care any of them, he condemns them. Since Charles does not have any relationship with them, he expels Arthur and Basil from the house.
Charles: (picks it up and gives her an amused glance) If you had put that action into words, what would you have said? (A silence to count five.) It does not matter. I asked for the opener and you conveyed it to me. Desire fulfilled Thats what its all about. (Proceeds to open the bottle.) (Act III)

In the above lines, Charles shows his real face to Mabel. Although, Charles makes believe Mabel that he loves her very much, Charles behaves to Mabel in an ingratitude manner. Actually, behaving in this manner is the real characteristic of Charles. He needs to hides his real characteristic until getting what he wants. In conclusion, drama is one of the oldest literary genres. There are some kinds of drama plays such as tragedy (problematic play), comedy, historical play etc King Lear is a

Osman Kayaurun 010201002 great Elizabethan tragedy that is written by William Shakespeare. The Trigon is a modern problematic play, whose author is James Broom Lynne. There is a great similarity in both of these plays. The similarity is the theme of ingratitude. There are evil characters both in King Lear and The Trigon. These evil characters are; Goneril and Regan in King Lear, Charles in The Trigon. These characters show their real intention, characteristics in a different way in order to trick the victims; King Lear in King Lear, Arthur and Basil in The Trigon. Indeed, these evil characters make believe the victim characters that they are sincere person to them. Eventually, the evil characters destruct the victim characters, in other words, their real intention is seen very clearly. Moreover, the evil characters do not need to hide their real characteristics any more. Finally, both King Lear and The Trigon are very good play. Although these plays are written in different periods, they have similar lesson to teach readers, audience, moreover to all people. It can be said that evil characters are the same throughout the history, so victims should be aware about them. I liked very much the studying these plays, especially this theme.

WORKS CITED:
1. Shakespeare Complete Works, (King Lear 908-942) W.J Craig (ed). Oxford University Press, 1966, New York, Toronto 2. The Trigon, James Broom Lynne Penguin Books, 1965, Middlesex , England 3. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/drama