King Lear

As soon as I began to read King Lear, I was able to interpret the text through a feminist and Marxist point of view. In terms of feminism, the text presents the reader with two important reoccurring themes we have touched on in the past. One of these is the representation of women as weak in one sense but also as strong in some ways. The other is the representation of the two extreme descriptions that women seem to have to fall into, one being extremely good and the other being extremely bad. In Act 1, Scene 1, the daughters of King Lear can be seen as weak. First, it it obvious that they (well two of them) are relying on their father's wealth and land. Second, the fact that they have to prove their love for their father makes it seem like in order to survive of get anything in life, you need to show your love for a man. On the other hand, Cordelia, Lear's youngest daughter can be seen as strong. She refuses to show her love for her father in order to receive his land. She would rather keep her own dignity than please a man's wishes. In Act 1, Scene 3, his other daughters can also be seen as strong. They soon grow tired of their father and refuse to see him as well as make him get rid of some of his knights. They are showing strength and authority over a man. Through out the entirety of the text, Lear's daughters portray two opposite characteristics of women. Cordelia shows the loving, caring, and honest woman. Regan and Goneril show the ungrateful, evil, cruel, and conniving women. These are two opposite and extreme categories that a feminist would say women are faced with fitting into.
Act 1, Scene 1 also lends itself to a Marxist reading. The reason why Lear's daughters were so eager to show their love for their father was not to truly express their feelings, but in order to get the best land. In Act 2, Scene 1, Edmund begins his plan to put his illegitimate father Gloucester against his illegitimate son, Edgar. He does this in order to be sole heir. The motivation for these actions is money, something a Marxist would immediately recognize about this play. In a way, the story also can be interpreted to show that you cannot move up in society. This is shown not in terms of social classes, but in how Lear treats his daughters. He makes it seem like the one who shows their love the best will get the best land, but he has already divided the land before his daughters speak. He has already picked who gets what land regardless of what they say, it wouldn't matter, nothing would change. It is a long stretch to connect with the mobility of social classes, but it was a thought in my mind.