Disobedience in William Shakespeare's King Lear

Disobedience in William Shakespeare's King Lear

"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child".

Filial disobedience is a key theme in the play 'King Lear' and in both

the times it was set and written, children were not expected to

disobey their fathers. Jacobean England was an extremely hierarchical

society meaning that respect should not only be shown to the powerful

and rich but also to parents and the elderly. Seventeenth century

England would have been more devout in terms of religion than today

and undoubtedly a Jacobean audience would have been familiar with the

fifth commandment, 'Honour thy father and mother'. Lear, like any

king, Pagan or otherwise, would have been seen as the godhead on earth

and therefore a man of exceptional power who implemented the gods'

will on earth. Such a figurehead should surely command absolute

respect and obedience. Yet Cordelia displeases her father, and

Goneril's and Regan's actions following Lear's abdication can only be

described as shocking, even to a contemporary and more liberal-minded

audience.

Act one, scene one represents the first emergence of filial

disobedience, starting with Lear's vanity demanding that his daughters

say how much they love him in a meaningless ceremony. Cordelia, his

youngest and favourite daughter, will not be drawn into this.

"Unhappy that I am I cannot heave

My heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty

According to my bond; nor more nor less."

I.i.87-89

Cordelia's refusal to flatter her father during the love test may

suggest to the audience that she is not only disobeying her father,

but also committing political sui...

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..., is one of great pain and sorrow. It eventually leads Lear

to madness and it is only then that he sees the true reasons behind

his treatment. Goneril and Regan commit many sins against their

father, which in Jacobean times would have been seen as evil or

against the natural order. Shakespeare portrays this theme with both

outright and subtle actions throughout the play. It is only when Lear

returns to himself that the audience sees how wrong his treatment was,

with the return of Cordelia, who bears no grudge. Goneril and Regan,

as it may be seen, were too spoilt by their father and the Fool's

words to Lear summarize what has happened.

"For you know, nuncle,

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long

That it had it head bit off by it young.

So out went the candle, and we were left darkling"

I.iv.189-192