Perspectives on Patriarchy in Shakespeare's "King Lear
Explore feminist criticisms of Shakespeare's "King Lear" regarding its portrayal of patriarchal views and treatment of female characters. Scholars debate whether Shakespeare was sympathetic to women's struggles or perpetuated misogyny in his works.
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How far do you agree that this play reflects a patriarchal world view, one that seems terrified by women and what they might represent? http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/03/08/theater/Lear3650.jpg
Feminist criticism http://girlempowered.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/feminism.gif - A general overview of some of the feminist perspectives on the play. - Use to guide your reading - Be purposeful/ critical
Marilyn French/ Linda Bamber Early feminist criticism of play suggests that Shakespeare is a feminist writer, sympathetic to the difficulties of the female he represents. http://lima.osu.edu/history/historyclub/raphael.jpg
Kathleen McLuskie The Patriarchal Bard: feminist criticism and Shakespeare McLuskie sees the play as fundamentally misogynistic and also, a paradigm for the sexual politics of its genre (tragedy) and history (Shakespeare s time). Tragedy is misogynistic -the protagonist is always male/ with male concerns and plots. Adding to this, Shakespeare aligns anarchy and sexual insubordination via Goneril and Regan. http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/misogyny-adverts/misogyny-23.jpg
Kathleen McLuskie The Patriarchal Bard: feminist criticism and Shakespeare In King Lear , all female resistance is defined by gender, sexuality and position in the family; family relations are fixed and any move against them is portrayed as a destructive move against the rightful order. For example: into her womb convey sterility Lear, 1.4 whores do churches build Fool, 3.1 women will all turn monsters servant, 3.7 humanity must perforce prey on itself,/ like monsters of the deep Albany, 4.2 http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/9/12/1347406526553/King-Lear-at-the-Almeida-010.jpg
Copplia Kahn, The Absent Mother in King Lear Does Lear gradually gain more womanly qualities? It s an exploration of male anxiety in a historical account of the way feelings are apparently feminine. Psychoanalytical reading of play which suggests Lear s desire to be mothered by Cordelia (debatable) http://tarbeyah.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/mother-and-child2.jpg
The Love-Test First scene about male anxiety; real purpose is about giving away his youngest daughter; bond between father and daughter. Lear as a child: wants absolute power over those closest to him and to be absolutely dependent on them. As man, father and ruler, habitual needs for love have been repressed; he wants to crawl like a baby towards death. He needs his nursery Goneril and Regan don t provide this; hence re-enactment of a childish rage about the absence of a mother figure. http://www.rsc.org.uk/images/content/Photo_Galleries-2009_earlier/kle_0704_gallery_02.jpg
Act 4, scene 2 To thee a woman s services are due,/ A fool usurps my bed. (Goneril to Edmund) Some critics find the sudden revelation that both Goneril and Regan love Edmund a little far- fetched. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7122/6966298654_71c6fccea2_z.jpg
Homework women in the play Tigers, not daughters This is a play full of images which present women as monstrous or inhuman. Collect examples from the play making a careful note of who is speaking and the context. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXPmcKUpbFODLmPLl7_6XfWEAKBkdsaAn_vEGXZ0FBQXxerjkR1g
Critical reaction Dowden- pure redeeming ardour Danby- perfection of truth, justice, charity Foakes- the agent of Lear s regeneration an embodiment of love Nineteenth- Century Cordelia s drew praise for being sweet, innocent and modest - Bratton More modern interpretations present a young woman who refuses to play her part in a state ceremony between king and subjects. (Adrian Noble 1992)
