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Shakespeare’s Critique of Power in King Lear

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ENG 241
12/15/11
-Illustrate Shakespeare’s critique of power in King Lear

In King Lear, Shakespeare paints a brutal picture of power, and what people will do to attain it. He does this by the themes of betrayal, madness and blindness, the things that power can often lead to. During the whole flattery scenario, Goneril and Regan commit the ultimate act of betrayal, not only to their father, but to each other. They conspire to snatch the throne from their father, by offering meaningless praise to their father. They then stripped what little authority he had left, and kicked him out, disregarding and disrespecting the one responsible for raising them. Goneril and Regan then turn on each other because of the character Edmund. Goneril goes as far as to poison her sister for Edmund, and then betrayed herself my committing suicide. The theme of madness is also current throughout the play. Goneril and Regan go mad out of their lust for power, in contrast to King Lear, who goes truly goes mad out of grief. Honestly, the entire tragedy is madness, the things that Lear’s daughters did to usurp the throne from their father are insane. They don’t stop at taking over the throne; however, they eye-up the same man, Edmund. This triggers another outburst of madness, that concludes with Goneril poisoning Regan, then killing herself, which is not only the ultimate act of self-betrayal, but also the ultimate act of madness. The final thing and the theme that really summarizes the entire play is blindness. This is really what Shakespeare is getting to, that power and the pursuit of power makes one blind, blind enough to poison your sister, frame your brother, steal what is not yours, and take your own life.

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