The Tragic Character of King Lear In William Shakespeare's King Lear, the similar events experienced by Lear and Gloucester result in a parallel plot sequence for the story. Lear and Gloucester are similar characters because they face similar problems when playing the role of a father. Their children also have a similar lust for power, a problem that Lear and Gloucester should not have to face while dealing with serious mental and physical dilemmas. And although the two characters are very similar, King Lear's story is tragic, and Gloucester's is not. Lear's tragedy is the result of fate befalling him, which in turn robs Lear of everything, and it is only in his final moments that Lear resolves some of his problems with a catharsis. To ensure that Lear's story is indeed tragic while Gloucester's is not, an examination of tragedy is necessary. Additionally, the overall situation and well-being of both characters is helpful in deciding who is the cause of their own problems and who becomes a victim throughout the play. The decisions made by Lear are also determining factors of tragedy, from the beginning of the play. The events experienced by Lear and Gloucester are similar, but their positions in society are different. The consequences are much higher for mistakes made by kings than for mistakes made by the Earl of Gloucester. Aristotle says that a true tragedy is the imitation of a serious or grave action involving a person of high status. However, the same person caused the death of oneself and the surrounding characters. When Lear handed over his kingdom to his daughters, he completely ceased any continuation of the family line to the throne. Also lost with ...... middle of paper ......aw: we often see plenty of them, our means guarantee us, and our simple defects prove our goods. (p. 78) It was only after the attack that Gloucester became a character with better vision. The character of King Lear fit Aristotle's definition of tragedy. He was a noble character who caused his own misfortune and who experienced a moment of catharsis at the end of the play. Gloucester was not a tragic character, as few people made the old man fear serious misfortune during the play. If Lear had lived longer or if stupid decisions had not been made, Lear's story would not have been a tragedy. If Lear had not been deceived by his greedy children, they would not have let their father lose control of the kingdom, as well as the family line to the throne. The disasters could have been avoided, but they were not, so the story becomes a tragedy..