Reckless Love in King Lear and 1984 Essay - 2350 Words

Do the relationships in ones life define the individual himself or even the fate of that individual or are the relationships a reflection of the individuals characteristics, personality and choices? In the literary masterpieces, King Lear and 1984, the character relationships are the essence of the stories themselves. In each of these pieces, both Winston, the protagonist of 1984, and the major characters in King Lear are put through a series of situations, including isolation and betrayal, in which the relationships with other characters are important to their fate. In almost every instance, the connections between each character when based on love, trust and sex lead to the downfall of one of the individuals or both. Relationships that†¦show more content†¦She did not take many risks as she believed that, â€Å"...all you needed was luck and cunning and boldness† (Orwell 142) in order to stay alive. Her relationship with Winston inevitably led to her capture. Winsto n’s love for Julia caused him to risk their lives by renting the room from Mr. Charrington who, unknowing to them, was a member of the Thought Police. His carelessness is shown in this quote, after he rents the room: Folly, folly, folly! he thought again. It was inconceivable that they could frequent this place for more then a few weeks without being caught. But the temptation of having a hiding place that was truly their own, indoors and near at hand, had been too much to bear for the both of them. (Orwell 145) The love between Julia and Winston made both of them reckless in a dangerous situation. The temptation of being together was enough to cause their capture and ruin their relationship. By the end of 1984, both the lives of Julia and Winston were altered negatively due to their carelessness caused by their love. Destruction of one’s state of existence is not only evident in 1984 but also in Shakespeare’s King Lear. Unlike 1984, the destructive love in this classic is not romantic love, but the love between a father and his son. Gloucester, a noble that serves King Lear, has two sons. His eldest son, Edgar, is legitimate while his younger son, Edmund is illegitimate. Edmund resents his status as a