Desire For Power In King Lear

Desire for power over others is a force of friction throughout the play King Lear that collides with different characters’ dynamics. It is the cause of conflicts, of tensions among Lear and his daughters, and Gloucester and his sons. Motivation for power, although beneficial in some instances, is a double-edged sword: like medicine, too much of it can be poisonous. In the play, Edmund willingly sacrifices familial relationships for his thirst for power. Yet, he is the victim of his own greed for power. Through Edmund’s struggle for power, Shakespeare showcases the desire for power—for dominance— is often born out of dysfunctional family relationships and causes its victim to fall from the ladder of power. In the beginning of the play, Edmund

But, considering his birth and his situation, one can sympathize with his desire to gain power. The origin of Edmund’s birth is a catalyst that motivates him to acquire power. Born out of wedlock, Edmund perceives himself inferior and desires to emulate the status of his “rightful” brother, Edgar. People, even Gloucester, disdain him, calling him the “illegitimate son”. In his eyes, everything seems unfair to and against him; he questions that if he and Edgar were born to the same father, why he and Edgar are so different, in terms of prestige and honor. Edmund’s thirst for power, consequently, is born out of his superiority complex—notably, stemmed from his dysfunctional family. Not surprisingly, the dysfunctionality of Edmund’s family is traced back to his father, Gloucester. Similar to Lear, Gloucester is blind, unable to differentiate his children: he constantly favors Edgar and neglects Edmund. The lack of fatherly love has nurtured his hatred for Edmund and, as a result, his greed for power and acknowledgement from others. The drive for superiority motivates Edmund to climb up the ladder of power, at the cost of the lives of Gloucester, Edgar, and many others. Through the character of Edmund and his origin, Shakespeare reveals that familial dysfunctions, especially partial treatment of the children by the parents, can drown a child in acrimony and kindle the motive to dominate others, to rise above