Male Characters In Alice Walker's King Lear

The male characters in Alice Walker ‘The Color Purple’, Arthur Miller ’Death Of A Salesman’ and Shakespeare ‘King Lear’ portray dominant characteristics and are often shown as strong and assertive. However, it could be suggested that the male characters do reveal their suppressed emotions making the audience feel sympathetic toward them.
In the play King Lear which was published in 1605, Lear becomes untrue to himself and loses sight on who he is. Lear has become an insecure person which explains why he insisted that all his daughters express their immense love and gratitude towards their farther making them stroke his ego before receiving any of his kingdoms. The reason that King Lear may want to give his kingdom away is the fear of becoming neglected. Therefore by Lear dividing his kingdom among those who pledge allegiance to him, he believes that he will maintain his rank and dignity even when he gives away his power. …show more content…
As the Elizabethan Wedding custom meant that the husband had full rights over what his wife had, effectively leading her to become his property. All Lear wants in return is to “retain the name and all the additions to a king,” which shows that the treatment of respect towards him is most important than his wealth as he is willing to give his title, power, authority and wealth just to be treated with the same respect as he had when he was a King. Lear’s offer of keeping his followers and being treated with respect in return to him giving away his power and land can be due to the society in which King Lear was set. King Lear was set in the eighth century B.C was based on the Elizabethan England era. It was an