Natural Law Of Shakespeare s King Lear - 1664 Words

Amber Li Dr. Andreacchi ENG4U1 January 6, 2015 Natural Law in Shakespeare’s King Lear King Lear is one of the most famous tragedies, which was written by Shakespeare between 1603 and 1606. During that period, the social unrest swept across the whole England, and the rise of capitalism led to moral turpitude. With the high-speed economic development, many old ethics and moralities had been gradually forgotten and destroyed. Therefore, King Lear can be seen as a true portrayal of the social phenomena of this time. The play explores the Natural law, which can be easily found in terms of power relationships between human beings— parents over children, husbands over wives, and king over subjects. The notion of natural social order in King Lear is not only simply as one of the most essential themes, but also the foundation of the entire play. First and foremost, at the core of this play lies the filiation between parents and children. Shakespeare shows the significance of this relationship through Edmund, Goneril and Regan, who do not respect their parents. At the beginning of the play, Edmund has no any entitlement under the unjust British Hierarchy and the social customs at that time because he is a bastard. When he said, â€Å"Shall top the legitimate; I grow; I prosper/Now, gods, stand up for bastards!† (1. 2. 21-22) These words define his the respect and rank of low birth. Though man s law neglects to recognize his rights of inheritance, he believes that heShow MoreRelated William Shakespeare s King Lear1550 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION: By facilitating the growth of evil within William Shakespeare’s King Lear, it is evident that the tragedy’s protagonist, King Lear can be held accountable for his own victimization and ultimate downfall. The most notable aspects of this self-induced victimization include Lear’s own lack of practical wisdom and divergence from the natural order, combined with the neglect of kingship, that enables Lear as a tragic hero to create the conceptual framework in which the ulterior motives ofRead MoreShakespeare s King Lear Essay : Power Of Honesty1149 Words   |  5 PagesMathew Larosiliere King Lear essay Dr K The Power of Honesty Shakespeare s King Lear is a play that follows Lear, the aging king of Britain, as he decides to step down from the throne and divide his kingdom evenly among his three daughters. Lear and a handful of other characters encounter many obstacles throughout the story. This play highlights human nature at its highest and lowest. 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