Authority

Within 'King Lear' traditional authority sources and figures become questioned and rejected. Within Jacobean society authority figures were seen as the King, a Father, a Husband, Nature and God or fate. All of which is challenged by various characters in the play alongside the authority which the legitimate had over the illegitimate. Whilst the challenges to these various sources of authority could convince the audience that they ought to be questioned the natural order is restored at the end of the play. It is all re-established although the power that this authority sources will continue to hold is left ambiguous.

Authority of father figures

As Jacobean society was patriarchal fathers were seen has having authority over their children. Edmund, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia all challenge this. Cordelia never takes away Lear's power but reprimands his use of it. When she returns she is demonstrating her obedience to the authority which Lear has as King and Father but her 'nothing' is suggesting that Lear is not using is authority correctly. Edmund, Goneril and Regan on the other hand, all directly challenge and take over their fathers' positions refusing not acknowledge the authority which they hold.It perhaps creates sympathy for Gloucester and Lear, as they genuinely cannot seem to understand humanity's capability for evil. However, on the other hand, it can be argued that their naivety makes them responsible for the chaos in which they create. The loss of authority of these father figures over their children results in their lives losing meaning. They have a complete lack of purpose and therefore resume a state of despair and insanity. In the storm scenes, as Gloucester says 'I had a son', the use of the past tense is interesting in the way in which it suggests that Gloucester no longer sees Edgar as his son, suggesting he has lost his authority as a father figure. Through the diminishing authority of the father figures in the play, Shakespeare explores the fragility of order, and through the evil nature of Goneril, Regan and Edmund, the audience see their capacity to break this and therefore create chaos. As the authority of the father figures is reduced, the authority of Goneril, Regan and Edmund increases. What is interesting in the play, is their ability to disrupt the natural order. However, depending on interpretation, it can be argued that Lear caused this, as he went against what was socially acceptable and divided the kingdom. Whilst the power of parents is question in the played, with the idea that children should usurp their parents, even with in this new orders ranks the authority of fathers is…