1. The Power of King Lear
In our eagerness to identify with Shakespeare's characters, we run the risk of bringing them down to our own level. ... But as Shakespeare presents it, the problem runs deeper. ... The powerfully tragic vision of King Lear is rooted in Shakespeare's understanding of political life, its limitations and its demands. ... Acts 4 and 5 are crucial to a full understanding of Lear as a tragic figure, but most critics fail to follow the subtle turns Shakespeare portrays in the king's attitudes, because they do not think through the implications of Lear's radically changed view of t...
- Word Count: 8939
- Approx Pages: 36
- Grade Level: High School