Theme Of Marxism In King Lear

The concept of Marxism is a popular one which is still being implemented in modern times, a prime example being within literature. When observing and analysing a text from a Marxist literary viewpoint, one must interpret the text as the author commenting on their society, culture and the political issues that were prevalent at the time; thus the background of the author must be researched. Marxism focuses more on the ideological and sociological aspects of the text as opposed to a psychological viewpoint of each character within the text. Marxist critics also reflect on texts in different ways, believing that literature is created as a product of ideology and not the desires of the authors/playwrights themselves. In the three texts King Lear,

Materialism links to the prevalent criticism of modern beliefs that material possessions and physical comfort are more important than spiritual values. In King Lear, one can rather easily interpret the character of Edmund as a personification of this criticism. Paul Delaney delves into this notion in his critical essay, stating that from a Marxist literary reading of King Lear, one can view Edmund as “typifying the new bourgeois ethic of irreverent, individualist acquisitiveness”. This statement holds a large amount of truth as Edmund, instead of maintaining his good relationship with his father (Gloucester) and Edgar, selects to strive towards material possessions such as land and power, isolating and effectively ruining the lives of those closest to him in the process. Ultimately, the pursuit leads to Edmund’s downfall which could have been prevented had he not sought to seek for

It is for this reason, that Lear and Gloucester are considered as fools for their actions as instead of taking responsibility for their actions, they absolve their guilt by viewing the Gods as omniscient figures who “kill [them] for sport”. By referring to his downfall as a “sport”, Gloucester conveys that the Gods view the downfall of man as entertainment and that man is powerless against all Gods as if they are “flies to wanton boys”. The theme of Materialism vs Spirituality also appears to be presented in The Bloody Chamber story, especially through the intriguing character of the Marquis and his contrast with Jean-Yves in the eyes of the female narrator. Carter appears to use this contrast on order to convey the notion that wealth and materialistic possessions can easily corrupt. Whilst the Marquis is presented as significantly wealthier that Jean-Yves and the wealthiest character in the story, he is simultaneously presented as the most distorted character in the story. The female narrator seems to acknowledge this, believing that he was in “despair” when he discovers her betrayal and also highlights his “atrocious loneliness”; thus portraying that even the