1. The Power of King Lear
This reading of King Lear makes it an edifying play, but it drains it of its tragic power by oversimplifying Shakespeare's understanding of the complexities of political life. ... In another essay on "King Lear," I have tried to extend Jaffa's analysis, analyzing the process of education the king undergoes when he loses power. ... The play turns on what I will call the disjunction of wisdom and power. ... He gains access to this wisdom only when he loses power, but that process in turn incapacitates him for further rule. ... These accounts in effect present private life as simply sup...
- Word Count: 8939
- Approx Pages: 36
- Grade Level: High School