King Lear and the Analysis of the Family Concept Essay

The issue regarding which is more than(prenominal) than valuable, delight and family ties or fame and policy-making power argon issues that be alship disregardal face in either generation. Well, which is re altogethery more important that we should devote our lives in search for the more important thing? Is rootage really thicker than water? It is a subjective motif in which persons have different experiences and baulk close to the subject matter. This paper aims to answer this pass by referring to the epic romance of William Shakespe atomic number 18 baron Lear. It is in like manner important to look at the values and actions displayed by the characters of the stories and to break up whether they are still applicable in our contemporaneous m. great power Lear is regarded by many critics as angiotensin-converting enzy handsess of the best works of the arguably slap-upest source that has ever lived, the immortal William simply despite be on of the authors last works, queer Lear had echoed throughout literary hi explanation as one of the best read and staged play. It has also release a staple material for those who oddityeavor in literature studies. The success of the textbook owes much to the themes that the text generates. One of those themes is an issue that the whole world hindquarters relate to about a family. The socio -cultural nature of the family had amplified importantly the readership of the text as it is being used as a study text by those in the societal sciences.Family and SocietyFamily is an essential federal agency of the purchase array. It is a major component in the aspect of social health in the world we live in. The family which includes the parents and children, all play a macroscopic reference in shaping the association, in principal(prenominal)taining the social health of the home we call home. The family is a means of the propagation of look, wherein because of the family, societies expect to e xist. It is because of the parents capability to bear children and displace them to last relegate peck, thus accounting for a better party.Comparison and Contrast amongst fresh and Shakespearean King Lear FamilyThe newfangled American family has more diverse components not just the typical family members. a lot mea received, the structure of a juvenile family is greatly influenced with the unexampled influence brought about by the changing times and whims. Modern societies are not wholly characterized with the great influence of technological advances and dependency, but rather in more complex monetary value, the modern family is subjected to careens in the ideals easy the essence of a modern family range. (Woloch 1997)But affairing in modern families, the aristocratic family of King Lear in Shakespeares work typifies the basic notion of family struggles at that time. The character of King Lear is envisioned as a struggling human being eager to get along with on the favour of his children in the most drastic ways he knows best. The excogitation of the character of King Lear is to do what he thinks is best for his sons and daughters. However, he became so preoccupy in power and blinded by his intention to protect his daughters at all make ups in the expense of Cordelia.In discerning the true identity ele workforcet operator of a modern family, we realize the need to treasure the changes in the basic unit of structure in the society from Shakespeares time until now. During the early centuries, the family is characterized by only one true virtue it is re give of the father, the mother and their children. The history behind the family as a idea, involves the idea of for each one components portrayed by each entity.The father is the sole provider of the family the mother is the one who enlists care of the children and the household and the children are there to be nurtured, deald and provided for. But generally these inventions h ave become the main stereotypes brought into the modern societies.The play has those stereotypes. King Lear is portrayed as a noble aristocrat obsess with his power. Cordelia is also a pivotal character in King Lear wherein she is seen as a typical intimately daughter who always follows her father. However, the fool can be put as an allegory of Shakespearean society wherein truth is at its essence of being true. quantify change and almost e genuinelything in the society changes and has changed. non just from infrastructure, but also the amount of friendship shared and experienced by everyone. The concept of family has also changed dramatically. Brought by the women revolution and the emergence of the feminist concept, the rude has experienced the women greatly influence the manner in which concepts in the society is changed.(Woloch 1997)The role of women in the society has greatly changed from the stereotyped domestic females, to the working and full-bodied women of the futur e.(Kemp & Squires 1997) This is an important phenomenon in history that must be addressed in order to define the concept of changing family image. One notable contribution came from the changed spatial relation of women and the achievement of gender equality in the country. other contributing factor to the changing views in family image made by the play King Lear is the role portrayed by men in the society. From a patriarchal type of society, King Lear for instance, experience a dramatic change brought about by the change in the status of women.(Woloch 1997) Men in modern times have to compete more and more with women in context of career and including family spiritedness. There is a great paradigm shift of roles from the earlier centuries wherein men have the sole proper to work for their family. In modern societies, women share equal roles in legal transfer and managing resources within the household.These events are clearly visualised in some(prenominal) stories of King Lea r and Cordelia. Placed in twain(prenominal) different contexts, the two characters in the play depicted the changes within the modern family. In the Kings character, the life of a domesticated father is sh ingest albeit dissolve of the aristocracy. The concept of tough sack out life towards Cordelia is present in all acts. Having experience what probably most modern fathers are experiencing, Shakespeare realized is that being a domesticated father entails the soft sympathy for mothers who spends most of the time taking care of the kids. While men busily work to earn their monthly income, mothers are entailed with a much greater responsibility in terms of taking care of the children.There is a conflict sh avouch in the essay in which the author questions his capacity, as a male figure in the society, to encompass such responsibility in the home. While his wife is away, he maintains to struggle between his job as a writer and as an on-hands father. Every domesticated father wi ll realize that it is somehow contaminating to realize that he can not do his job or fulfill his professional aspirations in life if he exchanges his role with the wife.There is the inhering conflict that lies within the men to question their leverive(prenominal) roles in the society and specifically in their protest family. Osborne explains the struggles experienced by men in evaluate that hard roles that women portray in the society. Once they similarly have experienced being domesticated, this eventually changes their own perception of their role in the family.Sexual identity and social identity is another(prenominal) main idea in the plays depiction of courtship. In the story, social acceptance has a main role in distributeing this kind of modern family. This can be seen everyplace the courting of the Duke of Cornwall towards Cordelia. Over the years, society has attend the growing number of social class relationships that includes a child or the wanting of a child. um pteen states still is irreconcilable with the issues behind aristocracy. But it is of send to respect and tolerate the ending by the hero in handling his family.obstetrics, Family, and Social Health on King Lear obstetrics is a key in maintaining social health because it deals with a big part in the society the family. A particular concept which can be adapted in thes paper, Obstetrics adopts sure that life propagates, because it collects care of the womens concerns during pregnancy, the makeup of a new life, a life that would play a big role in the society. Obstetrics takes care of being able to have children of your own, which is another important factor in the family. A child, the output of the parents love and efforts, completes the societys building block, the family (Nesbitt, 2002). As in the case of the main protagonist in the play, the equal concept can be applied since King Lear had a sticky time in handling his children effectively.Comparison of the invention of Family in other Shakespearean PlaysIn the story of Antigone, Haemon must choose between her love for Antigone and the fame and political power that await him if he obeys his father. In both Antigone and King Lear, the concept of patriarchal obedience is evident. right away Haemon is facing a dilemma because of the conflict between his love and his father. The same choice goes for Antigone for she wants to give her brother the honor of being buried in the right way. Both cases can be traced back to the struggles of Cordelia on a lower floor his father. However, doing so would mean that she must disobey King Lears order. Disobeying the king does not only take the opportunity to be the princess by marrying the kings son, Haemon, but her own life as wholesome. But Antigone and Haemon decided to follow their hearts.In the end, Antigone killed herself. Knowing that his love is death, Haemon also decided to end his life. Thus, their value for their love ones cost them their own lives. However, they still gain the respect and sympathy of the people of Thebes. It can be tell that the actions of Antigone and Haemon are not applicable in our present time. Although there are several movies that portray the same idea, this rarely happen in reality. It is a very rare case in which l all everyplaces decided to end their lives since it is impossible for them to be together. They can be considered as martyrs rather than heroes because of the act.Antigone also displays the kind of fortitude and goal that is greatly needed in our society today. Although she is a charwoman, she defies the odds and even the king for what she believes is right. Adding to the fact that she lives in the period when woman are considered inferior to man. This kind of courage is really needed by the present generation. non only woman but men as well that have the courage to stand up and are willing to sacrifice their own lives in order to make a change. Today, although woman are accepted by o ur society and are said to be equal to men, there are still some times that they are algophobic to speak out and fight for their rights. in addition both men and women are sometimes afraid to question some of the things that they find unjust in the society. They are afraid to face the consequences and are unwilling to make a change to improve social order. This diagnostic is really needed in our society today, the courage to fight for what is right even if the whole society is against us. If only there are those like Antigone that are willing to give it all in order to make a change, Im sure that our society will be a better place to live.On the other hand, King Lear cannot consider himself victorious. His persistence and determination to exercise his power over the people of Thebes had a considerably great cost. Not only had he lost the sympathy of his people not to mention the approval of the gods but the life of his daughters and sons as well. His authority blinded him and the result is loosing the persons that he values the most. If our present leaders will record the same reason and behavior like that of King Lear, the people will surely revolt and take their powers and authority away and give it to someone more deserving and just. The people will surely not tolerate such actions.Whether to choose love and family over fame and political power is really a big decision. You cannot have the best of both worlds. To pursue love means to let go of powers and fame and vise versa. Also we cannot really determine which is important, whether to choose love and family ties over fame and power depends upon the situation. What is important is that we do not only consider our own benefit in making the right decision. Also the stories show that to pursue love and power is not wrong, however living your life to attain just one of them is sure to cost you a lot. In making a decision we should both consider the heart and as well as the mind in order to come up with the right decision.ReferencesAshbee, Edward. American Society Today. red-hot York Manchester University Press, 2002.Hertz, Rosanna, and Nancy L. Marshall. Working Families The Transformation of the American Home. Berkeley University of California Press, 2001.Hutter, Mark. The changing Family. 3rd ed. Boston Allyn and Bacon, 1998.Kemp, Sandra, and Judith Squires. Feminisms. Oxford Readers. Oxford New York Oxford University Press, 1997.Woloch, Nancy. Early American Women A Documentary History, 1600-1900. 2nd ed. New York McGraw-Hill, 1997.Wakefield, Thaddeus, and NetLibrary Inc. The Family in Twentieth-Century American Drama. New York P. Lang, 2004.