Importance of Clothing in King Lear

Importance of Clothing in King Lear

Nakedness and dress in Shakespeare's King Lear, represented the status of a

character. Many scenes use clothing to show one characters dominance over

another. The more opulent the clothing, the higher the status, or the lack of

clothing, the lower the status. A few characters go through many wardrobes.

Lear and Edgar, both start the beginning of the play wearing expensive,

luxurious clothing, but each at different times wear less glorious clothing or

even no clothing at all.

Lear who is the most powerful and authoritive character in the beginning of

the play, is also the best outfitted. Lear during the play, soils his clothing

in storms, heaths, battles, and other harsh elements. At the same time that his

garments are lessening in value, so is his level of power and status. Lear

finds the bottom of the abyss he enters when he, a fool, a beggar, and a madman

have taken shelter in a hut from a storm. For Lear to be in the compan...