Big Question: King Lear

King Lear the tragedy has an interesting connotation to my big question. To refresh, my question is whether actions or environment plays a bigger part in shaping a person. After reading and analyzing this masterpiece, I was fascinated to see how these questions applied to characters such as King Lear, Edmund, and Edgar. King Lear seemed to be very malleable in the sense that he was easily influenced by the deceptive environment around him. For example, his tendency to believe Goneril and Regan's specious remarks of adoration demonstrate that he is easily influenced by the people around him. He is so influenced by society, that he in fact tells Cordelia to express more love for him because, in the eyes of society, he wants to be seen as someone who is reverently admired. Ultimately, his external environment plays the part in shaping his own actions, and thus, is more influential in shaping his character. Along with King Lear, who is more shaped by his surroundings than by his own sagacity, Edmund is shaped by his external environment. In his eyes, the world is a cruel, selfish place that his rejected him because of his illegitimacy. As the antagonist, he seeks to take revenge on society by utilizing conceit to avenge himself. For example, he feels that as Gloucester's son, he deserves to be the next Earl. Therefore, he plots to manipulate the relationship between Gloucester and Edgar, his father's legitimate son. As an outcast in the play, Edmund feels that he should take back what is rightfully his by reciprocating society's selfishness. In other words, Edmund is like Lear, because his vengeance is dictated by the societal rejection he has faced. Societal selfishness has prompted him to seek revenge, and thus, has influenced his character. Therefore, Edmund's character is more influenced by his external surroundings of society than by his actions since his actions are affected by his external environment. However, by the end of the play, Edmund realizes that he is an immoral bastard (literally), and faces the consequences in an honorable manner. This idea shows Edmund's progression as a character. Although he is influenced by society, he is wise enough to realize that he committed immoral deeds through his actions. In this sense, his actions have more of an affect on his character because he realizes that his immorality stems from his own doing, and not society's harshness. During his death, Edmund realizes that society isn't to be blamed for the heinous acts he committed, and that he is responsible for every immoral act he committed. This demonstrates growth in Edmund, because as he ironically is dying, he is also simultaneously progressing into a character who holds himself accountable for his mistakes. Finally, Edgar, like his brother, is molded by society rather than by action. He is very naive, and society changes him for the better by making him realize that the world is a hostile place, and that no one (even one's own kin) can be trusted. His environment shapes him by making Edgar realize that he must move away from the notion that everybody is good. Society shows Edgar that he should be stronger and more assertive. In other words, Edgar learns that he should move away from humanity and use his own judgement. In simple terms, society impacts Edgar's character by showing him that he should rely on his actions to guide his development (rather than on society). By weakening him to a debilitating condition, his external environment molds him into a character who learns to rely on his judgement and actions to define his character. Edgar, by leaning on society, learns to move away from it. He, like Edmund and Lear, discovers of the precarious consequences that can result from being shaped by external environment rather than by actions (and the one's conscience). Although these three characters differ in their character, (Edmund= vengeful, Lear= negligent, Edmund= naive), they are all similar in that they are slaves to their outer environment.