Shakespeare’s King Lear and Dante’s Inferno make several specific assertions regarding the nature of human
suffering. Some of these assertions may be placed in the category of “admonition”—that is, reproof, warning, or
cautionary advice. Others register simply as lament.
Discuss the correspondences between the two works in their exploration of human suffering, their thematic
mosaic of admonition and lament. In what ways are the works similar in what they seem to suggest about
human suffering? In what ways do they differ? And most importantly, what are the implications of these
differences? Why do these differences matter to us?
Choose the organizational approach to this topic that you feel best explores its issues, given the limitations of
the assignment’s 1200-1350-word length. Many rewarding approaches are possible. Be careful to substantiate
the turns in your argument with specific references to specific episodes as well as direct quotations.