King Lear - Power Corrupts - 798 Words

Power is the ability to manipulate and control whatever one desires; to do what one pleases to do without answering to authority. The power that corrupts the characters plays an extensive role throughout Shakespeares play, King Lear. Goneril and Regan are corrupted by the power that Lear offers them. Edmunds corruption comes from the trust of his father. Absolute power corrupts absolutely with the characters, because once have full control, they are so cold that they will do anything to keep the power Ââ€" or to gain more. The quest for power corrupts, but when absolute power is attained, treachery and deceit is the only path to take. The power that Lear gives to Goneril and Regan makes them treacherous and deceitful. Lear offers his†¦show more content†¦Edmund writes another letter, except this implicates his father in a plot with France to kill The Duke of Cornwall. He does this so that the younger rises [and] the old doth fall (3, 4, 25) and he will become the Earl. Edmu nd is so corrupted and blinded by his quest for power that he is willing to jeopardize his fathers life for a chance at being the Earl. Absolute power corrupts absolutely with theShow MoreRelated King Lear - Power Corrupts Essay773 Words   |  4 Pages Power is the ability to manipulate and control whatever one desires; to do what one pleases to do without answering to authority. The power that corrupts the characters plays an extensive role throughout Shakespeare’s play, King Lear. Goneril and Regan are corrupted by the power that Lear offers them. Edmund’s corruption comes from the trust of his father. Absolute power corrupts absolutely with the characters, because once have full control, they are so cold that they will do anything to keepRead MoreKing Lear Power Corrupts Essay1247 Words   |  5 PagesKing Lear; Power Corrupts Absolutely For years, power has been known to blind people from what really matters in life; it can lead to the demise of a person if it is not used responsibly. Shakespeare’s King Lear demonstrates how, because it is a sign of dominance and control, power becomes the poison behind the character’s actions. The lengths they are willing to go to in order to obtain this power are the cause of their problems. The play takes place in an era of hierarchy, where everyoneRead More Tragedy Through Misreading in William Shakespeares King Lear975 Words   |  4 PagesTragedy Through Misreading in William Shakespeares King Lear Shakespeare’s tragedy, King Lear, portrays many important misconceptions which result in a long sequence of tragic events. 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This is definitely the case for the character of Edmund in Shakespeare’s play â€Å"King Lear.† Edmund betrays and dec eives both his brother Edgar and his father Gloucester in order to achieve wealth and power. While his actions are corrupt and wrong, he should not be considered as entirely evil. His personality and his social status are contributing factors to his villainous actions. Throughout the play, EdmundRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear1320 Words   |  6 Pagesothers. Having strong communication skills allows one to better understand the situation at hand. Proper communication is essential to working out problems because of this reason. In the play King Lear by William Shakespeare, Lear communicating with his daughters, Gloucester communicating with his sons, and Lear communicating with Kent are all examples of failure of communication, which later lead to consequences and hardships that the characters must face. Without proper communication, people willRead MoreUnchecked Power in Shakespeares Macbeth and King Lear1458 Words   |  6 Pagescore. Numerous theories have been put for th to explain the sequence of tragedies Shakespeare wrote during this period by linking it to some experience of melancholy, anger, despair, and the antagonist s ultimate fall from grace in their lust for power. But such theories overlook the fact that it is in this very same period and in the same tragic works that portray the heights to which human nature can rise and fall in its purest and noblest, if not happiest terms. Surely the creation of so muchRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of King Lear963 Words   |  4 PagesA Child King At first glance, King Lear appears to be simply a selfish man who loses his wealth, his mind, and his life in that order. Sure, he learns a lesson, but it does not do much good because both he and his daughter, Cordelia, die before really making amends. In fact, most everyone dies before really getting anything good done. So why did Shakespeare bother writing this play? Well, Shakespeare was well known for having a deep understanding of mankind and portraying that understanding inRead MoreA Consideration of the Way Shakespeare Presents and Develops the Theme of Blindness in King Lear1563 Words   |  7 PagesA Consideration of the Way Shakespeare Presents and Develops the Theme of Blindness in King Lear Introduction ============ Throughout ‘King Lear’, Shakespeare uses the play’s characters to make judgements on society using blindness as a metaphor that runs through the play. He does this in a number of ways portraying characters that can be fooled by others’ flattery, or are easily manipulated or deceived, or simply have a lack of wisdom. As well as the horrific