When one thinks of King Lear, they may immediately think of the titular character and his tragic story. However, Shakespeare’s King Lear is not only a tragedy about an individual, but also a commentary on society as a whole. In particular, the play takes a harsh view of the justice system.
Throughout King Lear, there are numerous examples of characters being wrongly accused or convicted. In some cases, such as with Gloucester and Kent, this leads to them being exiled from their homes. In other cases, like with Cordelia and Lear himself, it leads to death. Even when characters are eventually vindicated, such as when Edmund is exposed as a liar, it often comes too late to save them from the consequences of their wrongful conviction.
The play seems to suggest that the justice system is more concerned with punishing people than it is with actually delivering justice. This is perhaps best exemplified in the scene where Lear is brought before his daughters to be judged. Goneril and Regan, despite being the ones in the wrong, are quick to condemn their father while Cordelia, who has done nothing wrong, is wrongly accused and banished.
As Lear states in this quote from his play, it is easy to see the poor as being wrongdoers, while those with more money can get away with justification. To be honest, when I look at current events it seems Shakespeare’s statement is unfortunately true and accurate to today’s society.
The poor are put on public display when they do something wrong, and the rich seem to get away with everything. In King Lear, Shakespeare makes a direct comparison of the two groups in society and how they are viewed by the law. The obvious answer to this game of Cross the Line is that there is a big difference between the way the justice system works for the wealthy versus how it works for those who are not as fortunate.
Wealthy people have always had an easier time getting away with crimes than poor people. The rich can afford better lawyers who can find cracks in the prosecution’s case and poke holes in witnesses’ testimonies. They also have the money to buy their way out of trouble or to pay off someone to keep quiet. The poor, on the other hand, often cannot afford a decent lawyer and have to rely on a public defender. They also generally don’t have the financial resources to bribe someone or buy their way out of a sticky situation.
While it is easy to see that the justice system favors the wealthy, it is important to remember that not all wealthy people are criminals and not all poor people are innocent. King Lear is a tragedy because it shows that no one is immune from the consequences of their actions, regardless of their social class. In the end, both the rich and the poor characters in the play suffer greatly because of their choices and actions. While Shakespeare’s outlook on the justice system may be pessimistic, it is not without merit.
Shakespeare’s play King Lear is a tragedy that tells the story of a royal family who descend into madness and destruction as a result of their own greed, pride, and foolishness. In the midst of all this chaos, Shakespeare makes some keen observations about human nature and the way society works. One of these observations is about the justice system and how it favors the wealthy over the poor.
“Through tatter’d clothes, little vices may be seen; Robes and furr’d gowns hide all.” This is a strong and straightforward statement by Lear that makes it clear where he stands on the issue. He implies that people with “tatter’d clothing” are easily identifiable, noting that their money does not conceal their sins. People wearing robes or furr’d gowns, on the other hand, can hide behind their belongings to ensure that what they do is concealed.
This immediately creates a divide between the rich and the poor in terms of how they are viewed by the law. The rich can easily get away with their crimes, while the poor are left to face the consequences.
This is a theme that is repeated throughout King Lear. Those with money and power are able to get away with just about anything, while those without suffer greatly. This is something that Shakespeare was clearly aware of and it is reflected in his work. It is also worth noting that this theme is not specific to King Lear. Throughout Shakespeare’s work, there are many examples of the wealthy abusing their power while the poor are left to fend for themselves.
It is plainly evident that Lear’s statement is accurate if you follow the news closely. For example, it’s not uncommon to see celebrities get only a slap on the wrist for acts like flying into violent rages, breaking traffic laws, or using drugs–despite the fact that any other person would likely face serious jail time or worse consequences.
The other side to this is when people who have no money or power are wrongfully accused and cannot afford a good lawyer to prove their innocence, resulting in them spending the rest of their lives behind bars for something they did not do. King Lear is a play written by Shakespeare that explores the idea of justice and how it is often corrupted by those with power.
Throughout King Lear, there are several examples of injustice, both from those in positions of power as well as those without. One example of this is when Lear banishes his daughter Cordelia simply because she refuses to give him the false flattery that he demands.
This act leads to Lear losing everything, including his sanity, and Cordelia ultimately being put to death unjustly. Another example is when Gloucester is betrayed by his illegitimate son Edmund and subsequently has his eyes gouged out. This heinous act is committed simply because Gloucester is blind to Edmund’s true nature and therefore cannot see that he is plotting against him.
These examples of injustice illustrate Shakespeare’s belief that the justice system is often corrupted by those in positions of power. Those with money and influence are able to buy their way out of trouble or get away with crimes, while those without are left to suffer the consequences.
This theme is relevant even today as we see wealthy people getting away with all sorts of crimes while the poor are stuck behind bars for minor offenses. It seems that not much has changed in 400 years. King Lear is a timeless play that continues to resonate with audiences today due to its exploration of universal themes such as justice and corruption.