The Tragedy of King Lear, written by William Shakespeare, has been constantly reinterpreted

for dynamic societies and audiences. By presenting the play through a variety of mediums, the
fundamental premises are maintained and the subject matter is appropriated to the relative
audiences. King Lear has an assortment of valuable principles that remain relevant today,
these include the ideals of; power, loyalty, blindness and justice, and how they are incorporated
into modern society.
Holding a seat of power allows the control and manipulation of others and circumstances.
Throughout the Tragedy of King Lear there are a variety of examples depicting corruptive
power relationships.
The power that Lear hastily casts to Goneril and Regan suggests his diminishing mental state
and possible ulterior motives such as fear. The dominance inherited by Regan and Goneril
allows them to be both treacherous and deceitful not only to Lear, but to their husbands, and
each other.
Ill not endure it.
His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us
On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,
I will not speak with him. Say I am sick.
Shakespeare presents Goneril as the weaker of the eldest daughters, as she chooses to hide
instead of facing the wrath of her scantily father. The imperative tone employed by
Shakespeare represents the accumulating power that Goneril gains, and her use of such
control over Lear.
Lear has been King of Britain for decades; this absolute power he has obtained is used only to
profit him, as he maintains his hierarchical position and the balance of power in his favour. By
ruling in such an unpredictable manner, he has driven himself into an eccentric pattern of
behaviour; resulting in his eventual madness and demise. Today, the reversible role of
caregiver as parents become elderly has become increasingly important. The authority being
given to the children allows their ultimate control, and is often difficult as the older generation
must dissociate from their power and responsibility.
Lears position is jeopardised not only as he abdicates the thrown, but also when Lear is forced
to reduce the number of knights in his service. Knights represent the level of his supremacy as
King and a man, and as he is asked to condense their number; he is reduced to the level of a
commoner.
O, reason not the need! Our basest beggars
Are in the poorest thing superfluous.
Allow not nature more than nature needs,
Mans lifes as cheap as beasts
Shakespeare uses the simile comparison of Lear to animals to clearly depict the diminishing
worth and power of Lear. Lear wishes to retain certain characteristics of his powerful position
but chooses however to ignore the growing responsibility he has placed on himself, his court,
and his family. He suggests that life should include more than the basic human needs in order
for it to be fulfilling; and that if he is deprived of anything above the fundamentals, then he is no
more than an animal. By Goneril and Regan denying him anything other than rudimentary
elements; they are exercising their power over him and his absent mind.

This power hungry nature also extends to his daughter Regan, as she and Cornwall express
their recently obtained command as they blind Gloucester. Such an abusive portrayal of power
can also be recognised in A Thousand Acres a modernistic novel adaptation of
Shakespeares King Lear. Jane Smiley uses the sexual molestation of the two eldest daughters
to represent the power struggle that Lear has in order to remain the monarch. The sexual
abuse is a physical recognition of Lears uncontrolled madness, and his violent resistance to
the manipulative control of his elder daughters. This abuse of power is a valuable premise in
current times, as such patriarchal power influences exaggerated in King Lear; depict the
constant battle associated with child molestation.
The act of being loyal and devoted to someone is rare today, as we are faced with greater
ultimatums that eventually lead to decisions; these decisions often result in betrayal.
Shakespeares King Lear presents not only the embodiment of selfless love, but also the
treachery and wickedness of jealousy. The betrayal of fathers and siblings is an underlying
theme as the loyalty of the few characters is represented subtly. The devotion of Cordelia to her
ailing father is maintained, if not strengthened, throughout the play.
O my dear father, restoration hang
Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in they reverence made.
The contemplative love that Cordelia holds for her father is symbolized through the gentle
nature of her tone and language. Even when condemning her sisters provocative nature, she
speaks in an honourable and virtuous manner. The reconciliation of Cordelia and Lear is a
particularly powerful scene. The devotion felt by both Lear and Cordelia is expressed effectively
as Lear recognises Cordelia and his mistreatment of her.
Just as Kent and Edgar remain devoted to their personal assignments, Cordelia continues in an
unwavering manner; although this is not suggested throughout the central part of the play. This
absolute love is represented at the beginning of the play as Lear proposes the division of his
estate.
Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond, no more nor less.
Cordelia speaks metaphorically of the untruth which she doesnt wish to present as her sisters
have done. The heaving of her heart into her mouth suggests the prejudice by which Goneril
and Regan choose to employ deception, and the choice of Cordelia to forego such treachery.
The empty flattery of Goneril and Regan is polarised by Cordelias truthful judgment of her love
and commitment to Lear. Her obligation extends to his role as King and as her father, but
remains deeper than the vacant love offered by her sisters.
Such faithfulness is expressed in Michael Elliots cinematic representation of King Lear, as a
number of Cordelias rebuttal lines are omitted. As well as removing the remarks to her sisters;
You have obedience scanted,
And well are worth the want that you have wanted.
By doing this, Elliot has emphasised the trustworthy element of Cordelia; even to her sisters
who have manipulated their husbands and her beloved father. Such selfless behaviour is rarely

experienced today, as the present world has an individualistic nature. By staying truly loyal and
devoted to King Lear, Cordelia is leaving herself an opportunity to be forgiven at the hands of
her father. This forgiveness is later experienced as Lears madness becomes distorted by love.
The physical blindness experienced by Gloucester and the metaphorical lack of sight that King
Lear suffers, is another commonly used element today that was originally introduced by
Shakespeare. As the play progresses, blindness becomes symbolic of judgement and
ignorance. Both father figures were naive to the control of their disloyal children, and the
devotion of their trustworthy children. King Lear uses the proposed gift of foresight when
offering his daughters the estate. However; the misjudged characters of Goneril and Regan
preclude his initial plan to live with Cordelia.
The irony becomes evident as Gloucester realises his mistake only once he has lost his
eyesight and is accepting of the evidence suggesting Edmunds betrayal- I stumbled when I
saw. Lears enlightenment comes only as he was temporarily blinded in the storm, only then
understanding the conniving nature of his eldest children. Sometimes it requires such
significantly dramatic events to alter our perceptions and allow us to perceive the world in a
different way. Lears lack of insight, understanding and direction makes him particularly blind to
the mistreatment at the hands of Goneril and Regan. The way in which Lear is fooled shows his
naivety and ignorance.
For we have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
That face of her again. Therefore be gone
Without our grace, our love, our benison.
Shakespeare demonstrates Lears instant ignorance to Cordelias existence through the
imperative tone of his dismissal. The repetition of our depicts the superiority of the court and
Lear in particular, as well as suggesting the possessions that Cordelia has lost through
defiance.
As Lear held a position of high authority in society, he failed to see his mistake and chose
instead to ignore Cordelia and Kents pleas. This ignorance and stubbornness led to Lears
eventual demise. The Fool later instructs Lear of his mistakes and with this great insight and
wisdom, is considered the conscience or voice of reason for Lear.
Albany too was blinded as a result of the unrequited love he had for Goneril. Not only was he
impartial to her treatment of Lear, but he failed to see her infidelity as she pursued Edmund.
Richard Eyres modern interpretation of King Lear presents an even greater degree of
sightlessness. This recent production holds the same rudimentary elements as the play, but
chooses to emphasise the usual subtleties. The minor costumes changes of Kent and Edgar
when they are disguised depicts how truly blind Lear is both physically and mentally as the
usually obvious recognition doesnt register. This also demonstrates the physical aging and
mental state of Lear, as deteriorating sight is often associated with the elderly.
Regan is also represented as a blonde, contributing to the manipulative disguise as blonde hair
is often associated with innocence and purity. Today, such stereotypes and stigmas are
attached to every aspect of existence, these typecasts prevent the exploration of the truth and
encourage individuals to limit their vision. Such acts of injustice today are avoidable and often
cause disorder and confusion if pursued.

The acts of human, natural and divine justice presented in King Lear are not entirely equal. The
notion of poetic justice being the comings of the deserved is shortly lived through a minority of
characters, whilst the others are forced into despair or unearned turmoil.
Divine justice also accepts the concept that good will triumph over evil; however throughout
King Lear it becomes evident that good doesnt triumph without the suffering of numerous
admirable characters. The suffering of benevolent characters, such as Cordelia and Edgar,
suggest the injustice of their parental treatment. It offers little satisfaction to the audience that
Edmund, Goneril and Regan are killed, as throughout the play their malicious characteristics
have been substantial in contributing to the collapse of others.
O, you are men of stones:
Had I your tongues and eyes, Id use them so
That heavens vault should crack. Shes gone forever!
Lears outburst suggests his moral position in relation to his belief in divinity. The easily
identifiable distress in Lears dialogue portrays his despair at Cordelias murder. Shakespeares
use of shortened sentences and exclamatory annotations reveals the anguish felt as Lear
realises that Cordelia will not return.
The lack of divine justice intervention can also be seen as Gloucester is blinded only for several
errors in judgement. It could also be argued that the severity of Lears punishment is also
excessive; although he misjudged the sincerity of his daughters, his madness, loss of Cordelia
and death seem a particularly unreasonable punishment. Such brutalities expressed
throughout King Lear may lead the audience to the conclusion that divine justice is simply a
figment of the imagination.
Human justice is also represented as a number of characters judge each other on personal
merit. Lear appeals to this higher authority over his daughters when trying their love in the
opening scene. Shakespeares suggestion that female sexuality is a contributing factor to
Lears increasing madness and Edmunds effortless manipulation, propose the incapacity of
women as logical or influential. Such suggestions are today considered sexist, and a feminist
reading of the play finds the patriarchal dominance intolerable and offensive. The act of
Cordelias banishment for displeasing her father is considered both excessive and
unwarranted. Similarly, Goneril and Regans easily manipulated nature; and the ultimate
authority lying with their husbands suggests their incapability as rulers and as individualistic
thinkers.
Conclusive evidence suggests that Shakespeares King Lear contains many elements relating
to modern day society. The various representations and readings of the play offer a variety of
evolving ideals and characteristics that are successfully portrayed through altering mediums.
The principle meanings associated with King Lear remain valuable today, as reinventions alter
perceptions to compliment contextual diversity.