King Lear Theme of power
KING LEAR King Lear by William Shakespeare is a prime example of “great literature that is able to transcend time and place”. Written in 1605 King Lear has since been subjected to many different interpretations which have in turn created a range of varied performances. ... However after the 150 year reign of the simple, happy version of King Lear new approaches to the play emerged, challenging the original criticism and opening a diverse field of interpretation. It was only discovered at this time that King Lear was in fact too complex to hold only a narrow interpretation correct to Shakespeare’s intention, and from, this new criticisms such as Marxist, psychoanalytical, Absurdist, Aristotelian, family/psychological drama and feminism opened. ... It is in the structure and language of King Lear that the ideas and themes of the play are developed, one can see the play as having the basic framework of the Aristotelian tragedy, where in 5 acts the action begins, the crisis develops, crisis reaches the climax, the complication and the catastrophe is 5 Acts. ... What is unique about the symmetrical plotline is that both plots are of equal importance as both arouse the same emotions in the audience for Lear and for Gloucester. ... Evil, Power, Appearance vs. ... It is in these themes that the chaos and conflict emerge in the world of King Lear and it is these themes that lead the Kings demise. One of the central themes in King Lear is Power, as it is through the misuse of power that chaos follows, there is also a prevailing relation to the idea of social structure. The world of King Lear is very autocratic and patriarchic with women controlled by men, and society controlled by the King. The social structure is thrown when Lear unburdens his responsibility, leaving society without a moral leader and thus having a firm influence in the lead to chaos in the kingdom. In the text the theme of Power in developed through the Aristotelian framework of the plot as well as the characters. In the beginning of the play, the King is in power, order is present and class is distinguished by the use of the royal plural. “Meanwhile we shall express our darker purpose”, the use of the royal plural is to express power and authority over others, the use also lacks emotion, as it is formal and consistent.