'King Lear is above all a play about power, property and inheritance.' To what extent do you agree with this interpretation of King Lear? by Clare D

For

2013-05-16 08:35:47 UTC

Regan and Goneril's flattery of Lear supports this view, as the lengths they go to to gain power

corrupt the kingdom.

For

2013-05-16 08:36:44 UTC

Edmund's betrayal of Edgar in his attempted to take Edgar's inheritance and gain power

, he is Machiavellian character

For

2013-05-16 08:37:57 UTC

Cordelia is seen as property - 'But now her price is fallen' (A1 S1 L96)

, allows us to see the play in feminist terms

For

2013-05-16 08:38:01 UTC

Lear's biggest mistake is giving away his property and power to his daughters

which fuel his, and many other characters downfalls in the play - "Which of you shall we say doth love us most?

That we our largest bounty may extend"

It is Lear's greed and vanity that causes him to give away his power in such a fashion and causes the loss of his mind.

Against

2013-05-16 08:43:08 UTC

King Lear could be seen as a critism of capitalism, warning the audience against materialism and greed as the capitalistic characters all end up dying.

Against

2013-05-16 08:44:20 UTC

King Lear can be seen from a Christian viewpoint as a journey to redemption (pilgramage - storm) and a criticism of materlism

Against

2013-05-16 08:46:33 UTC

A Marxist view on King Lear could be, the play focuses more on self-knowledge, and of the realisation through fained madness or the loss of ones mind, and the path to self-awarness as a result of this. For example Edgar's fained madness which leads him to gain the characteristics needed to confront Edmund and become King.

For

2013-05-16 08:48:28 UTC

Feminist point of view - power is held by Goneril and Regan - did Shakespeare

see 'men and women as equal in a world which declared them as unequal'

, or is he warning that women with power are corrupt and dangerous?

For

2013-05-16 08:54:02 UTC

Goneril and Regan send Lear's knights away - he has no power (impotency), his

knights are like his clothing - defining who he is. This shows how the roles have reversed.

His lack of power is shown again as he makes empty threats to his two daughters 'I will do

such things,/ What they are, yet I know not' (A 2 S 4 L277-278)

For

2013-05-16 08:54:13 UTC

Regan and Cornwall's brutality in the trail of Gloucester, is a display of their power,

and the intoxication of their minds through power. Gloucestser's punishment has already

been decided before he enters the scene and the brutality of it outways his crime, their

unnecerssary crulety and savage nature, are a result of their power-thirsty minds and

supports the view that the play is about power.

Against

2013-05-16 09:00:34 UTC

Edagr's raise to power, and the death of characters such as Edmund, suggests the play is more about justice and the natural order of the kingdom. Edgar hasn't searched for power, property, or inheritance in the play so his gain in power can be seen as a display of justice being achieved.

For

2013-05-16 09:02:07 UTC

Lear is raised up - powerful

For

2013-05-16 09:03:44 UTC

The play ends with the moral that power should be held by people chosen by God,

not by those chosen by other people, as they will become corrupt

2015-04-06 17:21:21 UTC