Politics/Corruption

Politics/Corruption

1. Corruption begins in L's first mistake of dividing his kingdom to form a sort of 'constitutional monarch'. It was tradition to have only one person reigning at one time. L's abdication = abandonment of responsibility. selfish way of doing it - parcels out his kingdom to daughters who flatter him most extravagantly instead of considering who is best suited to succeed him as ruler.

   • G parallels L - allowing personal favouritism to override his responsibility. As a nobleman, he should be grooming his lawful heir, Edgar, to succeed him, but his preference for Edmund, the offspring of an illicit affair, can be seen as another abdication of duty, one that causes him to make mistakes that lead to his downfall.

2. C – B rejects her because she is dowerless and, therefore, cannot provide him immediate political or economic benefit while F, while advising L of the possibility that his decision is a mistake, is gambling on the political odds that, on L’s death, he can lay claim to the throne on the strength of his marriage.

3. The political wilderness L has created is mirrored in the stripping away of human senses and obligations each character suffers as action builds upon action and the consequences manifest themselves.

4. realisation of social responsibility and obligation emerging in L’s consciousness and is a turning point in the demonstration of his unwise decision to abdicate responsibilities as well as an admission of his own failure as a monarch.

5. "Come not between the dragon and his wrath"

   • L asserts his power as monarch by using this metaphor, creating an image of himself as a mythological & powerful 'dragon'. use of hyperbolic lang emphasises anger towards those who don't obey him. L asserts the blasphemous and unlawful, and demands respect as King.

6. "Blow, winds and crack your cheeks!" - monarchs believed they were God's representatives on Earth. Even throughout his downfall, L tries to assert his authority with imperious statements & commands, & suggests he is chosen by God with superior power as he tries to dictate elements when instructing the storm.

7. "Wherefore should I stand in the plague of custom and permit the curiosity of nations to deprive me?" (I, II)

   • In Edm's soliloquy, he refuses to 'stand in the plague of custom' - rejecting tradition of hierarchy & seeking to thrive by his own cunning plan. - reflects corruption of politics as Edm feels no obligation to the authority of the monarch - metaphor of 'plague' depicts hatred for the hierarchy as it 'deprived' him. - He is driven by his own self-interest to claim power and uplift himself. Edm mocks the superstitious beliefs of G, an upholder of the old loyalty to king.