The Perpetual Relevance Of Shakespeare's King Lear

The Perpetual Relevance of King Lear
William Shakespeare was a playwright who created timeless tales. His works examined universal subjects that are relatable to by all of humankind. Although written centuries ago, countless themes explored in King Lear are still relevant in the contemporary day, including: delirium, misogyny, and sibling rivalry.
Throughout history, human beings have struggled with mental illness. Shakespeare’s use of the theme is portrayed in King Lear as the eponymous leader faces obstacles and suffers from delirium. The play indicates older patients are especially susceptible to delirium, and that it can be caused by severe emotional disturbance. After Lear’s deceitful daughters abandoned him in the storm, he revealed
King Lear exemplifies Lear’s daughters Regan and Goneril in a powerful and manipulative manner. The two are shown as power hungry and selfish. Once Lear had been rejected and abandoned by his daughters, full of regret and hate he cried out, “you unnatural hags” (2.4.275). Ironically, Lear’s plan to divide his throne between his daughters in a peaceful manner ended up in chaos. He referred the woman as ‘unnatural’ because even after he mentioned his weakness and need for their love, they were ruthless and only verified that women are cruel and heartless. Similar misogynistic views are seen in the basic writings of Christianity. Tertullian, one of the early church fathers, wrote: "Do you know that you are each an Eve? ...you are the first deserters of the divine law; you are she who persuades him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack"(Mace 80-81). According to Christian beliefs, women have been menaces since their creation. Eve, being the woman who led society toward misogyny, was accused of unleashing the devil, and caused eternal suffering for all of humanity. Christianity commands women to be ashamed of their gender. Similarly, Albany was ashamed of Goneril and accused her of being the spawn of satin, “See thyself, devil! Proper deformity shows not in the fiend/ So horrid as in woman” (4.2.60-61). Albany was repulsed that Goneril was so wicked to her family, and his words
It is a prominent theme in both the main plot and subplot of King Lear. The main plot demonstrates sibling rivalry through Regan and Goneril who were both self centred and in constant competition. They allowed unimportant matters such as lust for Edmund, come before blood relationship. Goneril did not want to leave Edmund’s sight because she feared if the two had a moment alone, she might steal him, “I had rather lose the battle than that sister/ Should loosen him and me” (5.1.18-19). In stating that she would rather lose the war than see her sister with Edmund, she demonstrated how serious and determined she was at defeating her sister. As the two sisters battled for his love, they lost their trust and true family values. Francine Klagsbrun, a thought provoking writer wrote, “There is the need brothers and sisters have to be different, to distinguish themselves from one another, to establish their own identities” (Gold 51). Klagsburn’s view on sibling rivalry explains that Regan and Goneril’s competition was created because they shared the same goals. Since the sisters had such strong and similar personalities, they created much commotion and struggle for those around them. Opposing the idea of mutual completion; in the secondary plot sibling rivalry was demonstrated by Edmund and Edgar. In Lear, Edmund who was fed up with being known as a bastard his entire life, came to a breaking point. “Well, my