An examination of the nature of evil Defining the term "evil" is a difficult task. Searching for its meaning in the dictionary led me to countless other words such as 'wicked', 'harmful', 'heinous', 'black', and 'villainous'. Needless to say, I didn't find the simplistic explaination that I had hoped for. This in itself proves that the nature of evil is opened to intepretation and debate.
Labelling an individual as 'evil' isn't easy, especially when it's hard to even clearly define the word. King Lear is a tragedy, and, because there is so much violence and murder, it needs to dramatise evil well.
For the most part, in 'King Lear', Shakespeare seems to simplify the concept. Cordelia is wholly good, with no evident faults, and Edmund is entirely evil. The audience is immediately aware of their nature.
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