"I'll tell thee: |
Power, as is demonstrated in King Lear, goes hand in hand with pride. In the above excerpt, Goneril strips King Lear of his last company of knights, subsequently emasculating him. Lear once had a great standing. The decision to divide his kingdom among his three daughters depleted all he had ever known in life. When Goneril takes from him the last significant source of his power, Lear is left in shambles; unaware of his surroundings and left without his dignity.
Throughout the play, there are transfers of power to various rulers. Each, in their own respect, is power thirsty beyond comprehension. And, as always, the following question pertains to this particular work of Shakespeare:
How does someone or something ultimately exercise complete power over another individual?
The greatest source of power in this play is not through the head, but rather through the heart. Within the heart lies the conception of one's self-worth, and, in many cases, the individual's purpose in life. The pride one takes in his or her self-worth can sometimes be slightly overestimated. In the case of the characters in King Lear, pride contrives a lust for power. This lust for power is relentless, and does not stop to uphold mere moral principles. Once power rests in the hands of an individual, he or she will do anything and everything to maintain its confinement.
It's as though the loss of power, for these individuals, signifies their diminishing levels of pride. Without power they feel they have nothing... No self-worth, purpose or direction in life. Within the kingdom, it has been established that those without power have little pride. However, if one is to maintain in power, his or her pride will mirror this success. Although easier said than done, one's pride should not stem from the amount of power possessed, or lack there of. In King Lear, this is a constant struggle; one that stems from the heart's desires, not from one's head.
The power of the heart to ultimately decide what is best is finally obtained, for, "Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say."
