Authority in King Lear

Kayla Jacklin Dr. Treschow English 153 25 run into 2013 Power Corrupts a Happily Ever After The theme of potence is prominent in William Shakespeares play King Lear. The play has umteen stakes that all toldow readers to observe the negatively charged effects that ones authority as wellshie have, and the negative effects that the lust for spot bequeath bring. Having authority is an important responsibility that is lots mis apply. Even in todays society in that respect are world leaders either taking the wrong incoherent action or taking no action at all, which results in consequences for themselves and their people.In Shakespeares play we are presented with the idea that having a great have intercourse of authority burn make one seem blind by making vile thoughtless decisions. These characters, and the readers of the play, exit learn something from those mistakes through spy the discovercomes the characters are faced with. Also in our society, in that respect is cor ruption from a strong bank for power. Throughout history m any dictators and tyrants have caused commotion for the people from their per countersignal greed.In Shakespeares play, the characters who have a strong requirement for power will causes corruption which coffin nail teach the readers the downfalls of authoritative behavior. When a person of high power ends up in a situation they are non pleased with, they often act illogically. Most clock they act too quickly without proper analysis of the situation, leading to poor decisions. An example of this occurs in the play when King Lear decides to split up his terra firma equally among his three daughters. He asks his daughters to pull their love for him, which he will use to decide who take outs which land.The most love and admiration will get the best land. When Lear finds out Cordelia, the daughter he loves most, has the least love to bear he acts unreasonably. Lear is furious, and he dischargees Cordelia from the kin gdom, refusing to give her the power he initially intend too. He degrades her in front of her possible suitors, making her undesirable to the Duke of Burgundy. This film portrays how Lear is blind to his daughters intentions from his self centered personality. Authority often makes one self centered because they are constantly worshipped by other people and they do not hear things they disapprove of often.Cordelia does not love her fix the least, she is attempting to use honesty to show how her two sisters were exaggerating and untruth about their love for Lear. Lear sees this as pure betrayal because he is used to being bowed down to at any expense. Cordelia doesnt express the great love he is expecting, so he is stunned. This causes him to act irrationally without thinking anything through or trying to understand the situation. Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity, and property of blood, And as a foreigner to my heart and meHold thee from this for ever. The barbar ous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes To gorge his appetite, shall to my mamilla Be as well neighbored, pitied, and relieved As thou my sometime daughter. (Shakespeare 1. 1. 110-117) Lear tells Cordelia how he has disowned her from the royal family and then tells her that he cares for her as much as he cares for savages that eat their own children. This extreme reaction from Lear illustrates how power has modify his thinking. Lear provides another example of acting irrationally, but with Kent this time.Kent argues with Lear about his decision to banish Cordelia. Kent believes Lear is making the wrong decision, and being the nobleman he is, he mustiness attempt to change it. Since Kent is a noble man he will stand up for what is right, even if that means doubting his majestys decisions. See better, Lear, and let me still remain/ The true blank of thine nerve centre (Shakespeare 1. 1. 156-157). Kent tells Lear to see better because Lear is misunderstanding Cordeli as intentions. But because Lear is being so arrogant, he refuses to understand Kent and banishes him also.Lears arrogance will lead to an infelicitous ending for all, just same(p) Dan Brayton states in his journal article What Lear enkindlenot see, and what is mayhap glimpsed by Cordelia and Kent in their reactions to Lears living will, is that the process of division initiated with the display of the part will become uncontrol-lable, as the play proceeds to leave well all of its major characters propertyless, bereft, or dead (402). Lear is blind to the ethical intentions of Kent and Cordelia, which brings punishments upon himself.These irrational decisions lead to negative consequences for Lear. After Cordelia is banished, all the power is split amidst his other two daughters Goneril and Regan. In their deep lust for power, Goneril and Regan turn on Lear. Now that the two daughters have all the power they feel no need to respect their father and his wishes. They find no bene fit in keeping him around and they find him a nuisance. The two daughters wont let their father keep all his noble knights they refuse to reside the only thing he has left in his waning sustenance.Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires, Men so disordered, so riotous and bold That this our court, infected with their manners, Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust draw in it more like a tavern or a house of ill repute Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak For instant remedy. Be then desire By her that else will take the thing she begs, A little to disquantity your train, (Shakespeare 1. 4. 223-231) Goneril tells Lear that there are too many ill-mannered knights crowding the palace, and if he does not reduce their number she will do it herself.Lear has given Goneril and Regan all his power so he has no choice but to obey his daughters. He went from a King to a lonely old man because he was fooled by his two selfish daughters. The author of the journal a rticle trip out and Authority in Hamlet, King Lear and Pericles, Kay shareowner, adds to this point Having lost Cordelia to another king, Lear embarks on an inner journey through desolate isolation and victimization (26). Stockholders words can be interpreted such that Lears daughters Goneril and Regan isolate him by ignoring him and his wishes.Since Lear has given up his power he is easy being forgotten. He then becomes Gonerils and Regans victim in their thirst for power. Lears poor decisions have fueled his already feeler insanity. Goneril and Regan betray their father in their personal desire for power, they are so concerned with their own well being they have lost all intent to care for and love their father. The double plot of this play, Lear and his daughters along with Gloucester and his sons, brings in another significant example with Gloucester and his two sons Edgar and Edmund.Edmund is Gloucesters bastard son who seeks revenge and full inheritance from his father. Ed mund knows that because he is the bastard son he will not be the son to take the place of his father Edgar will. Edmund has been made to feel less than his brother his whole deportment and has a strong desire to be on top for once. In Edmund desire to get his fathers inheritance he will take out multiple acts of betrayal. He begins by telling his father of a hairpiece letter which explains that Edgar is going to kill Gloucester.He then tells Edgar that Gloucester is angry with him and that he should cancel him till he can calm him down. Now that Edmund has created some tension, he expands on his plot. Edmund is with Edgar in Gloucesters castle when they hear Gloucester coming. Edmund tells Edgar to flee for his safety device while he draws his own sword and wounds himself. When Gloucester enters Edmund tells him Edgar wounded him. This angers Gloucester and he sends out servants to find Edgar for punishment. In addition to Gloucester and Edgars plot, Gloucester is involved wit h King Lear.Cornwall and Regan have taken over Gloucesters home and have forbidden him to help Lear. Gloucester knows he must help Lear, so he tells Edmund to distract Cornwall and Regan while he sneaks out to find Lear. Edmund immediately betrays his father by telling Cornwall and Regan what Gloucester has departed off to do. All this betrayal and cruelty come from Edmunds motivation to have inheritance of his father he wants the power from his father. These sinfulness actions are a result of Edmunds greedy mentality, and with evil actions comes punishment like all of Shakespeares plays.At the end of the play, Edmund finally gets what he has coming for himself. capital of New York realizes Edmund committed deceit and calls him to a duel. Just as the Herald calls up anyone who agrees so Albanys assumption of Edmund, Edgar walks in and takes over the fight. Edmund falls and ultimately dies. era Edmund is dying he comes to the realization that his actions were wrong. I pant for life. Some good I mean to do Despite of mine own nature. cursorily send Be brief in itto th castle, for my writ Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia. Nay, send in time (Shakespeare 5. . 242-246) Edmund appears to regret his wicked actions as he explains how he wishes he could live longer to do a little good. He also tells Albany and Edgar to go quickly to the castle in hope to save King Lear and Cordelia from the death he had sentenced on them. This gesture shows that he has recognized wrong from right and is making any attempt he can to do good before his lifes end. Along with Edmund learning from his actions, the audience too learns from his actions. Tragic endings like such are not pleasant, but they are eye openers for readers and observers.The readers can learn how the misuse of authority has negative effects without having to experience it themselves in real life. After observing the negative effects in the text, they can understand and recognize the same situations in rea l life to nullify them. Throughout King Lear attention is drawn to the idea that authority can have consequences if misused. The two plots in the play signify its importance by being very tragic and upsetting. King Lears loss of Cordelia shows how swollen-headed actions and misused power lead to loss. He is blind to the signs Cordelia and Kent present him with which eventually lead to his demise.Goneril and Regan exemplify how a strong aspiration for power can lead to insensitive and wrong decisions. They betray their father, and anyone who stands in their way. Edmund also exemplifies how an extensive want for power leads to his demise by betraying the two people erotic love to him, his father and brother, just to inherit the power of his father. He commits acts of pure evil from inner greed. Although the play introduces so many sinful acts and wrong behavior upon characters, in the end the readers learn valuable lessons. Authority corrupts when it is taken too far.Authority mu st not be taken for granted, and it should be used wisely. It should be used for the good of the people, not just for the good of one. Work Cited Brayton, Dan. travel in the Lake of Darkness Possession, Dispossession, and the Politics of Discovery in King Lear ELH 70. 2 (2003) 399-426. Summons. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. Shakespeare, William. King Lear. New York Pearson, 2005. Print. Longman Cultural Edition. Stockholder, Kay. Sex and Authority in Hamlet, King Lear and Pericles Mosaic 18. 3 (1985) 17-29. Summons. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.