William Shakespeare is highly regarded for his literary works, and one of the greatest studied authors in literature. However, there is hardly any record of Shakespeare’s childhood, other than he born around the time of his baptism that took place on April 26th, 1564, and attended the Stratford grammar school, where he would have studied classical writings and Latin. Though we know very little about his education or what prompted his writings, we do know that around the year 1594 Shakespeare was a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, (called the King’s Men after the coronation of James I), as a successful playwright. Throughout Shakespeare’s career, he wrote several plays in the genre of history, comedy, tragedy and romance, and several poems,
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King Lear is a story of both political and familial strife that’s universal in all cultures. For instance, in the main plot, King Lear unwittingly set his own fate as he hands over his kingdom to his two ungrateful daughters Goneril and Regan, while abandoning his youngest daughter Cordelia for her inability to profess her love for him. Unfortunately, it is after he has gone insane that Lear realizes that Cordelia was the one that was loyal to him, while Goneril and Regan’s love was superficial. Goneril and Regan succeed in not only destroying their own family, but also the kingdom they were supposed rule and protect. Equally important is the subplot that helps to frame the political and familial injustice. In the subplot, Gloucester and his legitimate son are deceived by Edmund, Gloucester’s illegitimate son. Edmund bitter with his position in life brilliantly, but maliciously manipulates everyone in the play to get the power and prestige that he believes he is entitled to. Ultimately the depravity of Goneril, Regan and Edmund lead to a decaying kingdom and senseless …show more content…
Indeed, it is likely that Edmund saw his relationship with his father and brother in only political terms, as he does not hide the fact that he is resentful of their position in life and the privilege it brings, yet Edmund’s vindictiveness reaches far beyond that of his own family. His deep-seated hatred and sense of entitlement is not only to his own family but anyone who poses a threat of his overall goal to take over the whole kingdom. Consequently, his actions serve no greater purpose than self-preservation.
As the story unfolds it is obvious that Edmunds self-pity at the beginning of the play is only the start to the manipulation tactics he uses to fraudulently win over the reader, and then the people he supposedly aligns himself with. Just as he uses his father and brother’s insecurities against one another he uses Goneril and Regan’s jealousy to advance his agenda. Edmund knows that both sisters are willing to do anything to win his affection, but to him it is all about who has more to offer:
To both these sisters have I sworn my
King Lear is a story of both political and familial strife that’s universal in all cultures. For instance, in the main plot, King Lear unwittingly set his own fate as he hands over his kingdom to his two ungrateful daughters Goneril and Regan, while abandoning his youngest daughter Cordelia for her inability to profess her love for him. Unfortunately, it is after he has gone insane that Lear realizes that Cordelia was the one that was loyal to him, while Goneril and Regan’s love was superficial. Goneril and Regan succeed in not only destroying their own family, but also the kingdom they were supposed rule and protect. Equally important is the subplot that helps to frame the political and familial injustice. In the subplot, Gloucester and his legitimate son are deceived by Edmund, Gloucester’s illegitimate son. Edmund bitter with his position in life brilliantly, but maliciously manipulates everyone in the play to get the power and prestige that he believes he is entitled to. Ultimately the depravity of Goneril, Regan and Edmund lead to a decaying kingdom and senseless …show more content…
Indeed, it is likely that Edmund saw his relationship with his father and brother in only political terms, as he does not hide the fact that he is resentful of their position in life and the privilege it brings, yet Edmund’s vindictiveness reaches far beyond that of his own family. His deep-seated hatred and sense of entitlement is not only to his own family but anyone who poses a threat of his overall goal to take over the whole kingdom. Consequently, his actions serve no greater purpose than self-preservation.
As the story unfolds it is obvious that Edmunds self-pity at the beginning of the play is only the start to the manipulation tactics he uses to fraudulently win over the reader, and then the people he supposedly aligns himself with. Just as he uses his father and brother’s insecurities against one another he uses Goneril and Regan’s jealousy to advance his agenda. Edmund knows that both sisters are willing to do anything to win his affection, but to him it is all about who has more to offer:
To both these sisters have I sworn my