Comparing Patriarchy In A Midsummer's Night Dream And King Lear

He is now using some trickery of his own, and he views this as the best way to save himself. King Lear, clearly delusional at this point, becomes fond of Poor Tom and views him as a wise man. Edgar, who is now somewhat hardened, uses his disguise as an opportunity to share honest values with the king. “Take heed o' th' foul fiend. Obey thy parents, keep thy word’s justice, swear not, commit not with man's sworn spouse, set not thy sweet heart on proud array. Tom's acold,” he advises, attempting to connect to the crazed Lear (III.iv.86-89). By using prose, he is trying to convince the party that he is of the lowest possible status. In doing so, however, he is losing some of the morality that accompanies the innocence he started with. Even in his clever disguise, though, he still shows that he is unable to fully let go of his innocence, since he is still giving moral advice even as an insane beggar that speaks in prose -- not something that one would expect to be discussed while using prose. As he delves deep into his disguise, he experiences hardships and learns of the wrongdoings of the nobles around him that have caused the country to go into turmoil. When Edgar meets his blind father, Gloucester, and he does not even recognize his own son, Edgar keeps his identity a secret from the tortured man who only wishes to forgive

In King Lear, Gloucester is initially reliant on his perception of reality. When Edmund, Gloucester’s illegitimate son, divulges Edgar’s alleged assassination plot, Gloucester easily believes the lie, declaring his legitimate son an “abhorred villain, unnatural [and] detested” although it is Edgar that cares for his father most (I.ii.81). By casting out Edgar and refusing to reevaluate Edmund’s character, Gloucester faces harsh consequences, including the Duke of Cornwall plucking out his eyes. In a state of utter helplessness, Gloucester pleas for Edmund to come and “quit this horrid act,” which Cornwall scorns by revealing Edmund’s betrayal (III.vii.88). Gloucester’s literal blindness allows him to realize Edmund’s true intentions and Edgar’s true devotion. Gloucester is blinded when he relies on sight, and cannot see clearly until he trusts less in appearances and relies on sound, unclouded judgement.

Starting the play with the revelation of Edmund’s plans to see his half brother and father’s downfall, we receive an image of a father who cares only for pure bloods of higher class per say. One can conclude that this man is obviously high class and stereo typically favors the older, direct bloodline son, nevertheless, we can’t take a rash conclusion so fast. Thus, we wait for the plot to develop and let us glance into the true selves of the characters further. We come to the knowledge that Lord Gloucester realizes he values his ties with the king to a great extent, him risking and losing his title as lord due to aiding King Lear. Afterwards, we see him come to appreciation of virtues of honesty and his sons after he is captured by the Duke, losing his eyes as punishment. Gloucester as a character has developed greatly, going forth through challenges and misdemeanors against his pride and being, ending disgraced and blind. Yet, he holds a calm sense to himself, valuing what he has left and becoming more than humble with others. This is a transformation worthy of Shakespeare himself, rather impressive at the very least. This man has lived through the betrayal of his bastard child and being blinded violently for helping a distressed king, he has sacrificed much with spiritual values in return. Astounding that he didn’t suicide out of pure remorse that he will never be able to witness the world again. Unfortunately, he does die of a mixture of happiness and shock when he is revealed that Edgar still breathes life, so he has that going for

When observing gender in our society, women and men are stereotyped with specific roles. Men have always been seen as the family’s main source of income whereas the women take care of their home and children. However, Shakespeare challenges these gender roles in his play with the three female characters Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. While all three are independent, powerful women and even lead their armies into battle, the men seem to be foolish and weak such as King Lear and Albany. Furthermore, Mira cel Batran makes a point in her essay, “Feminist Reading of William Shakespeare’s King Lear”, that although women are regarded as dependent on men, Shakespeare explains that it can be the exact opposite. The men seem to depend on the women such as King Lear depending on Cordelia and Albany depending on Goneril. Shakespeare, in his play, King Lear, portrays women who are strong and intelligent and men who are weak or overpowered by female characters, challenging the societal belief that women are inherently less than or dependent on men.

Despite its first performance being in 1608 where women were not allowed to take part in theatre, William Shakespeare’s King Lear is arguably dominated by the female characters. The story focuses on a king who is driven into madness and decides to handover his power to his two eldest daughters, Regan and Goneril. These two daughters are exceptionally important to the development of the play since it can be argued that they are the ones commanding a fair share of the events that take place. This can also be said about Cordelia. According to Kate Downey Hickey and Catherine S. Cox, Cordelia is the essence of the play as she offers truth and evasiveness. In the following, the role of women will be discussed in King Lear. How are the female characters

The power that makes Edmund corrupt is trust. He uses the trust to manipulate and control his father for the benefit of himself. He frames his brother by composing a false letter to his father implicating a plot to kill Gloucester, that when “our father would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue forever.” (1, 2, 55-56) Gloucester replies with “this villain of mine comes under the prediction of mine: there’s son against father” (1, 2, 112-117) This shows that Gloucester had great faith and trust in his son Edgar. To better his plan he goes to Edgar and convinces him to run away. The thought that he would frame his own brother for the chance to gain power shows his corruption, and that he will do anything to have more power. 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. Edmund is so corrupted and blinded by his quest for power that he is willing to jeopardize his father’s

Shakespeare's works have persistently influenced humanity for the past four hundred years. Quotations from his plays are used in many other works of literature and some common phrases have even become integrated into the English language. Most high schoolers have been unsuccessful in avoidance of him and college students are rarely afforded the luxury of choice when it comes to studying the bard. Many aspects of Shakespeare's works have been researched but one of the most popular topics since the 1960s has been the portrayal of women in Shakespeare's tragedies, comedies, histories and sonnets.

It was apparent throughout Shakespeare’s King Lear that a father’s role was meant to have a powerful influence over his daughters. King Lear’s behavior and the way he spoke to his daughters were telling in his own relationships with women. The three daughters’ treatment towards their father resembled their rearing. Typically, a maternal figure was looked upon for guidance and support, and without such; the idea of a broken domicile was left playing a predominant role. As Kahn divulged in “The Absent Mother in King Lear,” it “is marked by the omnipotent presence of the father and the absence of the mother (247).

One’s motive to intentionally disrupt others from normality can be acquired from a variety of reasons such as being dissatisfied with one’s position. Edmunds source of dissatisfaction is derived from the jealousy of Gloucester's illegitimate son also known as his brother Edgar. Edmunds jealousy can be seen from the start as he is confused why only Edgar can take the next heir of the throne. For example, “...Well then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund As to th' legitimate. Fine word, 'legitimate,' Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed And my invention thrive, Edmund the base Shall top th' legitimate. I grow, I prosper. Now, gods, stand up for bastards” (1.2.15-22). Edmund has decided that if he cannot

Women in the sixteenth century were commonly dominated by a patriarchal society. Meaning their loyalty and respect lay amongst the men in their lives with little choice for opposition. In Othello by William Shakespeare, he portrays the role of women in a way typical to their representation in Elizabethan and Venetian society. While the women may be presented as mentally stronger than their male counterparts, the language given to these female characters suggest that they have internalized society 's expectation of them. Apart from moments of private conversation and Emilia 's reaction to Desdemona 's death, the women behave in a submission that is expected of them, believing it to be the natural way, as the men continue to downgrade and treat them as secondary citizens. Shakespeare represents this status of women through the traditional views of the male characters, moments of submission from the females, and how the women internalize this society.

In the beginning of the play where Lear’s daughters are to profess their love, Cordelia tells Lear, “You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I / Return those duties back as are right fit, / Obey you, love you, and most honour you. / Why have my sisters husbands, if they say / They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed, / That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry / Half my love with him, half my care and duty: / Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, / To love my father all” (1.1.99-107). While Goneril and Regan may profess their love to Lear with sweet words and empty lies, Cordelia can only love Lear no more and no less as a father. These words are what banishes Cordelia however, and the start of a chaos that violently unravels throughout the play. Though Cordelia’s truthful response becomes Lear’s downfall, Edgar’s words of deceit towards Gloucester helps him. After Gloucester’s attempt at suicide, Edgar gives encouragement by telling him “… but thou dost breathe; / Hast heavy substance; / bleed’st not; speak’st; art sound. / Ten masts at each make not the altitude / Which thou hast perpendicularly fell: / Thy life’s a miracle” (4.6.61-65). Edgar may feel betrayal from his father, but the realization of Gloucester’s blindness makes him feel pity; he “revives” the blind man out of renewed love. The contrast of the filial love towards their fathers between Cordelia and Edgar

How can a father’s personal prejudice overpower his love for his child? Is it the father’s greed for respect and societal grandeur that causes a clash between him and his son? In Titus Andronicus and Henry IV Part 1, Shakespeare sculpts unique and convoluted Father-Son relationships, which are a result of the fathers’ expectations and their perception of masculinity.

The other parent child relationship gone wrong in this play is that of Edmund and his father. He is the bastard-son of Gloucester and wants everything that Edgar, the legitimate son, has. In the beginning of Act 2 he draws his sword on Edgar and tells him to pretend like he is protecting himself because he hears Gloucester coming. Edmund says:

Shakespeare may be the most known playwright of all time, however, you may be surprised at how many unfair stereotypes this very famous writer incorporated into his plays. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy play written by William Shakespeare in the late 1500s that portrays events surrounding the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to the extravagant Hippolyta, the former queen of the Amazons. Such events included Demetrius jilting Helena at the altar and falling in love with Helena’s rival instead, Hermia. However, Hermia is in love with Lysander, not a disdainful youth known as Demetrius. According to feminist theory, the theory that focuses on gender inequality. A Midsummer Night’s Dream would not be considered a feminist empowerment play because throughout the play Shakespeare portrays women as timid/easily frightened. He shows men having more power than women, and perpetuates the unfair stereotype that all women must act a certain way.

In the first act, King Lear is at old age and begins to think irrationally and illogically. He wishes to live the rest of his life in tranquility, deprived of any further responsibilities of ruling the kingdom. Deciding to distribute his kingdom between his three daughters, King Lear challenges them to a game of flattery. This leads to Cordelia, his youngest and most beloved daughter being disowned and Kent, his trusted advisor and good friend banished from the kingdom. The Earl of Gloucester is left baffled and discusses it with his illegitimate son, Edmund, who hands his father a forged letter. Edmund frames his legitimate brother, Edgar, with this letter speaking of him wishing for his father 's death.