I will argue that the clothing used in King Lear reflects deeper themes occurring in the play. The use of clothing is significant because it is a physical symbol of the embedded themes of the play. In this paper, I will address how the use of clothing contributes to the development of the themes of justice, appearance of sanity, and power.
Justice is a key theme in this play. At the beginning, Lear administers justice the way he believes the gods have allowed him to do so. However, once he abdicates his throne, Lear suffers injustices at the hands of other characters and random chance. Ripped of his robes and rich clothing, Lear realizes that “through tattered clothes small vices do appear” (IV.6.164). While the “strong lance of justice hurtles …show more content…
On the other hand, clothing can be used to represent a saner sense of mind. The main example of this is Edgar or ‘Poor Tom’. In an effort to hide himself from his family, Edgar chooses to be “naked [and] outface the winds and persecutions of the sky” (II.3.11-12). This nakedness is a clear sign of his instable mental state. After meeting Lear, Edgar expresses that a “foul fiend follows [him]” and even saying that the fiend goes “to thy bed and warm thee” (III.4.47-49). Lear, who too becomes naked as this scene progresses, does not see anything wrong with this exchange and appears to speaking rationally with Edgar. For both of these characters, being naked is a direct reflection of their insanity. For Lear, the troubles began when he decided to split his kingdom. The Fool tells Lear that he “hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gav’st thy golden one away” (I.4.159-160). After giving away his crown, the readers can see a clear decline in Lear’s mental state because he is unable to find himself after turning over the kingship. Even the Fool, who realizes that Lear “needs to wear my coxcomb”, understands how foolish Lear is acting by splitting his kingdom and banishing Cordelia (I.4.102). On the other hand, when Lear is given “fresh garments”, the reader can see him calmly and clearly communicate with Cordelia (IV.7.230). In this play, Shakespeare uses clothing and nakedness as a …show more content…
To elaborate, many of the richly dressed characters hold the power in this play. For example, Goneril and Regan possess “gorgeous wear’st” (II.4.269). As a reflection of their clothing, both characters strategically place themselves to gain their father’s kingdom. With the refusal on Cordelia to participate in the love test, Goneril and Regan have rights to the entire kingdom. Even though Lear still “retain[s] the name, and all th’ addition to a king”, Goneril and Regan are able to wrest away Lear’s remaining power (I.1.136-137). Lear’s loss of power began when Lear “clovest thy crown i’ th’ middle and gav’st away both parts” to his daughters (I.4.156-157). The crown was a symbol of the power he held. But by splitting and giving it away, Lear holds no more power in the play. Clothing also contributes to the appearance of power. After Lear meets Edgar, he offers Edgar a position in “one of my hundred”, but only he changes the “fashion of [his] garments” (III.6.77-79). For Lear, the link between clothing and power is evident. He believes that if an individual is dressed for a position of power, then they are unable to possess that position. On the other hand, characters dressed poorly or naked possess little power in this play. When Lear strips down in the storm scene, he has been stripped of all the power he once held. For example, his daughters team up to rid Lear of his knights and his servant,
Justice is a key theme in this play. At the beginning, Lear administers justice the way he believes the gods have allowed him to do so. However, once he abdicates his throne, Lear suffers injustices at the hands of other characters and random chance. Ripped of his robes and rich clothing, Lear realizes that “through tattered clothes small vices do appear” (IV.6.164). While the “strong lance of justice hurtles …show more content…
On the other hand, clothing can be used to represent a saner sense of mind. The main example of this is Edgar or ‘Poor Tom’. In an effort to hide himself from his family, Edgar chooses to be “naked [and] outface the winds and persecutions of the sky” (II.3.11-12). This nakedness is a clear sign of his instable mental state. After meeting Lear, Edgar expresses that a “foul fiend follows [him]” and even saying that the fiend goes “to thy bed and warm thee” (III.4.47-49). Lear, who too becomes naked as this scene progresses, does not see anything wrong with this exchange and appears to speaking rationally with Edgar. For both of these characters, being naked is a direct reflection of their insanity. For Lear, the troubles began when he decided to split his kingdom. The Fool tells Lear that he “hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gav’st thy golden one away” (I.4.159-160). After giving away his crown, the readers can see a clear decline in Lear’s mental state because he is unable to find himself after turning over the kingship. Even the Fool, who realizes that Lear “needs to wear my coxcomb”, understands how foolish Lear is acting by splitting his kingdom and banishing Cordelia (I.4.102). On the other hand, when Lear is given “fresh garments”, the reader can see him calmly and clearly communicate with Cordelia (IV.7.230). In this play, Shakespeare uses clothing and nakedness as a …show more content…
To elaborate, many of the richly dressed characters hold the power in this play. For example, Goneril and Regan possess “gorgeous wear’st” (II.4.269). As a reflection of their clothing, both characters strategically place themselves to gain their father’s kingdom. With the refusal on Cordelia to participate in the love test, Goneril and Regan have rights to the entire kingdom. Even though Lear still “retain[s] the name, and all th’ addition to a king”, Goneril and Regan are able to wrest away Lear’s remaining power (I.1.136-137). Lear’s loss of power began when Lear “clovest thy crown i’ th’ middle and gav’st away both parts” to his daughters (I.4.156-157). The crown was a symbol of the power he held. But by splitting and giving it away, Lear holds no more power in the play. Clothing also contributes to the appearance of power. After Lear meets Edgar, he offers Edgar a position in “one of my hundred”, but only he changes the “fashion of [his] garments” (III.6.77-79). For Lear, the link between clothing and power is evident. He believes that if an individual is dressed for a position of power, then they are unable to possess that position. On the other hand, characters dressed poorly or naked possess little power in this play. When Lear strips down in the storm scene, he has been stripped of all the power he once held. For example, his daughters team up to rid Lear of his knights and his servant,