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Social Order In Shakespeare's King Lear

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Social Order In Shakespeare's King Lear
Amelia Weidemann
“If the heavens do not their visible spirits/Send quickly down to tame these vile offenses/...humanity must perforce prey on itself,”(IV.ii.48-50). This quote comes from the fourth act in King Lear written by William Shakespeare. In the process to amend the social uproar that ensues after the first act, Cordelia later on in the play tries to reestablish the aristocratic ideal of service to one’s lord by waging war on the betrayal of her sisters. Shakespeare wants to illuminate that the tragedy of the play and society relies solely on the fact that mercantile power supersedes the feudal system. The conflict of the play identifies with the triumph of capitalist values. William Shakespeare uses the ills of capitalism, alienation, and dowries to obtain wealth and power through characters in King Lear as a proof of tension between the old and new …show more content…
Shakespeare informs the reader of the modifications needed in society to prevent capitalism from overthrowing the traditional aristocratic ways. Through Goneril and Regan, the dangers of bourgeoisies and proteltarists are evident and the negative effects they cause. With the differing social orders, lineage becomes trivial. Blood no longer matters and wealth depends heavily on market exchange. Scholars highlight the difficulties and dangers of utopian concepts, especially when they are centered on bourse. He discusses the many social climbers who attempt to behave badly to gain status from the new capitalist power. The conflict between the idea of human liberty and the traditional order is resolved in the play by transforming the king into an item of pathos. By “humanising” the king, Shakespeare is able to fuse together the two ideas regarding absolutist authority and individual
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