What Role Does Catharsis Play In A Death?

While King Lear is filled with death, I found that those whose deaths would mean the greatest loss for their country had the least effect on me. I was surprised to find myself feeling most sorry for the nameless servant who stood up for Gloucester against Cornwall. How is it that I care more for this servant than Lear, Gloucester, or even Cordelia? Well, I didn’t feel any catharsis during his death, only regret.

Lear redeems himself by rising from madness and restoring his relationship with his daughter, Cordelia. However, his death has an element of fairness to it because he still must account for his crimes against England (splitting it amongst his daughters) and his ribald behavior towards his daughters.

Gloucester’s death is more amusing than sad because he dies, tragically, of an overly joyous heart. I couldn’t help but feel happy for the man because although he treated his son, Edgar, horridly, he apologized and could accept his circumstances with a smile.

While I feel pity for Cordelia, who dies while trying to rescue her father, I feel there is a certain burden carried by anyone who goes on heroic ventures; they know their deaths will become martyrdoms. I mourn for Cordelia, but I do not feel greatly saddened because she knew the perils of saving of Lear.

When it comes to Edmund, Cornwall, Regan, and Goneril, their deaths bring joy. Huzzah for the end of tyrants and what not.

Unlike all these characters, the servant had not treated anyone in the play poorly, he did not try to dominate others, and his heroic deeds were not planned, but instinctive. There is no catharsis from his death because he did nothing wrong. The servant’s only action was briefly fighting injustice. With this, he puts himself alongside all the nameless men and women who are remembered by those close to them for their local initiatives. With a quite demeanor, but a fierce moral standpoint, people like the servant engrain themselves into the hearts of those who witness their unexpected strength. It is the unexpected heroes that truly last forever.