Download To what extent is the concept of power central to King Lear as a

To what extent is the concept of power central to King Lear as a whole?
Power is central to the play “King Lear”. Power is the reason why it creates filial ingratitude
of Goneril and Regan towards Lear, the reason for such cruelty done on Gloucester to
have his eyes gouged out, the loss of power is Lear's motivation to gain humility and
Gloucester's realisation of the truth. Shakespeare explores the aspect of humans when
given or removed power.
At the beginning of the play, we are established with Lear's “love test”. Whoever flatters
him the most gains his power over the lands of his kingdom. Goneril and Regan both
flatter him with embellished words, “A love that makes...speech unable Beyond all matter
of so much I love you” and “I find she names my very deed of love; Only she comes too
short.” Cordelia refusing to partake in this show of affection, power is split and passed
down to Goneril and Regan. With Lear's dwindling influence and their hunger for evil,
Goneril and Regan take up the opportunity of removing the rest of his power. They begin
to whittle down the number of his followers, “What? Fifty followers?” The gradual
diminishment of his followers signify the diminishment of his remaining influential power.
Lear exclaims in anger of their disrespectful treatment towards him and the filial ingratitude
is the catalyst for his cracking sanity.
Lear is driven out into the storm to mark the complete powerlessness he has. The storm
raging outside is symbolic of the madness that rages in his head, “tempest in mind”.
Completely vulnerable to the elements, it deepens his understanding and sensitivity
towards people. Seeing the naked Poor Tom and himself under the mercy of the storm, he
realises that all men are equally vulnerable to the ruthlessness of nature, “poor naked
wretches, wheresoe'er you are. That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm.” Stripping down
his robes to match Tom's nakedness, he questions, “Is man no more than this?” Wearing
pompous and rich clothing is only man's futile attempt to hide and disguise our vulnerable
nature. Having Lear's power stripped from him enabled him to learn and understand
humility for the first time.
Gloucester's eyes being gouged out were the result of the indulgence of power from
Cornwall and Regan. They become posesed by evil in their obsession with Gloucester's
punishment after they found out that he has aided Lear. Cornwall admits that he should not
execute Gloucester without a proper trial, “Though well we may not pass upon his life
Without the form of justice, yet our power Shall do a curtesy to our wrath, which men May
blame but not control.” but he knows that he has the power to do so without others
preventing him. Regan is hungry with revenge for helping Lear, “Hang him instantly!” Their
anger resulted in having Gloucester's eyes gouged out. With power comes with
responsibility and having great power proves to be a huge temptation to use as you wish.
Clearly, Regan and Cornwall have abused their power and used it for evil.
Powerless without sight, Gloucester is broken on the inside. Gloucester could not tell that
Edmund has manipulated him into believing that Edgar wants him dead. Gloucester's
physical blindness symbolises the metaphorical blindness he has. Once that he has lost
his eyes, Gloucester realised his tremendous error, “Oh, dear son Edgar, The food of thy
abused father's wrath”. Like Lear, being stripped of his sight and powerless from it, it
enabled him to realise his mistakes.
With Shakespeare's exploration of power, we see the effects it has of gaining and being
removed of power. For Goneril and Regan, the gaining of power induced filial ingraitute
towards their father and fed on their evil. Cornwall and Regan's newfound power enabled
them to abuse and do such ghastly inhumane acts. The stripping of power enabled Lear to
understand humility for the first time and for Gloucester to realise the truth of his sons. And
so power is central to “King Lear”.