A Story - 'The Mistaken Identity'

Though a  poet at  heart, I tried my hand at story-writing. The story entitled 'The Mistaken Identity' submitted at Sulekha for India Smiles contest is still available for reading at the following link(simply click on it):

THE MISTAKEN IDENTITY


Do leave a comment to tell me how you liked it.

King Lear - Part II

Many critics have argued that Lear was at fault when he asked his daughters the extent to which they loved him. He had already divided his kingdom giving the largest share to his favourite youngest daughter, Cordelia. He only wanted humour himself and see his daughters shower love on him. Critics even blame his old age for this foolishness. It has also been said that he also committed the fault of making his daughters his mothers.
                   Lear banishes Cordelia from his kingdom. The Fool tries to check him. It was later the fool who makes him realize his mistake. The fool is like a mirror to him. Lear is united with Cordelia when it is too late (as we have already discussed the last scene of the play in the previous post).

King Lear

The character of King Lear created by William Shakespeare in the play 'King Lear' is one of my most favourite characters in English literature. In the play he grows from being a King to being a man. This growth is the lesson he has been taught by life, but in a harder way. He has to lose everything in the end, including his beloved daughter Cordelia. It is true when he says:

"I am a man
More sinned against than sinning."
(Act III, sc.ii)

At another point Gloucester laments,

"As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods.
They kill us for their sport."
(ActIV, sc.i)

Finally, when he gets back his daughter Cordelia, having seen the emptiness of the high flown words of love of his other two daughters, he wants to live happily even in prison. He realizes his error of judgement:

"Come, let's away to prison:
We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage:
When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down,
And ask of thee forgiveness: so we'll live,
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded butterflies."
(Act V, sc.iii)

P.S. I am interested in discussing more about this character. You can post your comments about King Lear.