Power In King Lear Essay

Philosophers view social class as a division of powers, which continuously shapes society. Power throughout the play is a noticeable theme, which runs until the final lines of the play. Characters portray the theme of power in different manners, having a tremendous effect on the ongoing events. In terms of the marxist theory, Shakespeare has awarded and deprived power from his protagonists throughout a horrendous process in his tragedy of King Lear. The possession of power has moved characters from higher social classes to lower ones, and vice versa. Based on many aspects from the marxist theory, the shift of power has made monsters of some characters, but thoughtful individuals in others. Shakespeare uses the theme of power in King Lear to
Going back to the start of the play, Lear decides to divide his kingdom into three sections, “Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there. Know that we have divided in three our kingdom” (Shakespeare I, I, 37-39). According to the marxist theory, only the people with power can choose to perform changes, even when it is against the will of the majority. As he has the power, Lear wants to divide his kingdom, which was uncommon back when the play was written, as kings at that time were aiming to unite England and Scotland. Following the division of the kingdom, Lear’s Fool begins to point out his king’s mistakes. Lear’s Fool is a smart character, despite his name, as he defines Lear’s actions, “Ever since thou madest thy daughters, thy mothers: for when thou gavest them the rod, and put'st down thine own breeches” (Shakespeare I, IV, 15). The Fool expresses his concerns, as he thinks Lear has pulled “breeches’’ his pants down, and the fact that he has given Goneril and Regan a rod to hit him with. After abdicating his thrown to his daughters, and as stated in the marxist theory, Lear lowered himself in society, while his two daughters rose to the highest level in society. Unfortunately, the Fool’s concerns will later become a reality, but for Lear, it is too late. In like manner, and throughout his article, Paul Delany describes the importance of social class in King Lear. Delany also points out that having power is not an issue, but he also mentions that the issue is created by people who hold that power as he compared the two sides in the play, ‘’I shall assume, therefore, that the opposition between the party of Lear and the party of Regan, Goneril, and Edmund is not merely a conflict between good and evil persons; it conveys also a social meaning that derives from