King Lear and the Analysis of the Family Concept Essay Example for Free

might Lear and the Analysis of the Family Concept EssayThe write up regarding which is more than important, love and family ties or fame and political forefinger are issues that are perpetually present in every generation. Well, which is genuinely more important that we should devote our lives in search for the more important thing? Is blood really thicker than wet? It is a subjective topic in which persons render different experiences and stand active the subject matter. This piece aims to answer this question by referring to the epic range of William Shakespeare King Lear. It is too important to look at the values and actions displayed by the characters of the stories and to analyze whether they are still applicable in our contemporary time.King Lear is regarded by many critics as wizard of the outdo lasts of the arguably greatest generator that has ever lived, the god William But despite existence on of the authors last works, King Lear had echoed through b ulge out literary history as one of the best read and staged play. It has also become a raw material material for those who endeavor in literature studies. The success of the text owes much to the themes that the text generates. nonpareil 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 significantly the readership of the text as it is being used as a study text by those in the social sciences.Family and smart setFamily is an essential part of the association. It is a major component in the aspect of social swell upness in the world we live in. The family which includes the parents and children, all play a big berth in shaping the connection, in maintaining the social health of the place we call home. The family is a means of the propagation of life, wherein because of the family, societies continue to exist. It is because of the parents capability to bear children and raise them to become better flock, thus accounting for a better society. similarity and Contrast between Modern and Shakespearean King Lear FamilyThe fresh American family has more diverse components non just the typical family members. Often times, the structure of a young family is greatly influenced with the modern influence brought about by the changing times and ideas. Modern societies are not only characterized with the great influence of technical advances and dependency, still rather in more complex terms, the modern family is subjected to channels in the ideals behind the essence of a modern family image. (Woloch 1997)But unlike in modern families, the aristocratic family of King Lear in Shakespeares work typifies the basal notion of family struggles at that time. The character of King Lear is presented as a struggling compassionate being eager to win the favour of his children in the most drastic ways he knows best. The goal of the character of King Lear is to do what he think s is best for his sons and daughters. However, he became so obsessed in power and blinded by his intention to protect his daughters at all costs in the expense of Cordelia.In discerning the true identity of a modern family, we realize the need to evaluate the miscellanys 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 composed of the father, the mother and their children. The history behind the family as a supposition, involves the idea of distributively roles portrayed by each entity.The father is the sole provider of the family the mother is the one who takes misgiving of the children and the kinsfolk and the children are there to be nurtured, loved and provided for. But generally these concepts have become the main stereotypes brought into the modern societies.The play has those stereotypes. King Lear is portrayed as a noble aristocrat obsessed with his power . Cordelia is also a pivotal character in King Lear wherein she is seen as a typical good 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.Times change and almost everything in the society changes and has changed. Not just from infrastructure, but also the amount of knowledge helpingd and experienced by everyone. The concept of family has also changed dramatically. Brought by the women regeneration and the emergence of the feminist concept, the country 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 domesticated females, to the wor king and productive women of the future.(Kemp Squires 1997) This is an important phenomenon in history that must be addressed in enounce to define the concept of changing family image. One notable contribution c ame from the changed status of women and the achievement of gender equality in the country.Another contributing operator 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 life. There is a great figure of speech shift of roles from the earlier centuries wherein men have the sole pay off to work for their family. In modern societies, women share equal roles in bringing and managing resources within the household.These chargets are clearly depicted in both stories of King Lear and Cordelia. Placed in both 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 knowle dge albeit part of the aristocracy. The concept of regretful love towards Cordelia is present in all acts. Having experience what probably most modern fathers are experiencing, Shakespeare recognize is that being a domesticated father entails the engaging 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 obligation in terms of taking care of the children.There is a conflict sh protest in the bear witness in which the author questions his capacity, as a male figure in the society, to handle much(prenominal) responsibility in the home. While his wife is forward, he maintains to struggle between his job as a writer and as an on-hands father. Every domesticated father go away realize that it is somehow degrading 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 internal conflic t that lies within the men to question their respective roles in the society and specifically in their own family. Osborne explains the struggles experienced by men in accepting that hard roles that women portray in the society. Once they too have experienced being domesticated, this eventually changes their own perception of their role in the family.Sexual identity and social identity is another main idea in the plays depiction of courtship. In the story, social acceptance has a main role in considering this kind of modern family. This can be seen over the courting of the Duke of Cornwall towards Cordelia. Over the years, society has witness the growing form of social class relationships that includes a child or the wanting of a child. Many states still is inharmonious with the issues behind aristocracy. But it is of practice to respect and tolerate the decision by the protagonist in manipulation his family.Obstetrics, Family, and Social Health on King Lear Obstetrics is a key i n 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 makes sure that life propagates, because it takes care of the womens concerns during pregnancy, the formation of a youthful 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 product of the parents love and efforts, completes the societys building block, the family (Nesbitt, 2002). As in the fact of the main protagonist in the play, the corresponding concept can be applied since King Lear had a difficult time in handling his children effectively.Comparison of the Concept of Family in other Shakespearean PlaysIn the story of Antigone, Haemon must take in 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 conce pt of patriarchal obedience is evident. Now 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 gift her brother the honor of being buried in the right way. Both cases can be traced back to the struggles of Cordelia under 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 well. But Antigone and Haemon inflexible 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 said 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 h appen in reality. It is a very rare case in which lovers 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 courage and aim that is greatly needed in our society today. Although she is a woman, 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. Not 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 our society and are said to be equal to men, there are still some times that they are afraid to speak out and fight for their rights.Also both men and women are sometimes afraid to question some of the things that they buzz off unjust in the society. They are afraid to face the consequences and are unwilling to make a change to improve social order. This characteristic 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 ascendency blinded him and the result is loosing the persons that he values the most. If our present leaders will demonstrate the same priming 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 receive 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 oral sex in order to come up with the right decision.ReferencesAshbee, Edward. American Society Today. New York Manchester University Press, 2002.Hertz, Rosanna, and Nancy L. Marshall. Working Families The mutation of the American Home. Berkeley University of California Press, 2001.Hutter, Mark. T he 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 docudrama 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.