Introduction
One of the most interesting topics raised in the literature is power and authority. This is because this topic can be implemented from different points of view on this phenomenon. Furthermore, it can provide a more complete understanding of the role of these aspects in an individual’s relationship with each other. Therefore, power and authority are fascinating topics related to Shakespeare’s plays. Throughout his works, Shakespeare explores the idea of individuals who possess power and how they use or abuse it. This paper analyzes the themes of power and authority portrayed in Julius Caesar and King Lear, examining the characters’ pursuit of power, rhetoric use, and unchecked authority’s consequences.
Julius Caesar Play Analysis
In many of his plays, Shakespeare delves into the multifaceted realm of leadership, exploring various archetypes of rulers and the distinct ways they wield power. A prime illustration of this is Julius Caesar, who scrutinizes the essence of governmental authority and delves into significant inquiries concerning allegiance, treachery, and the sway of public sentiment on the political terrain. The drama delves into the intricacies of guiding a nation and the repercussions of excessive ambition, as manifested through Caesar’s assassination and the ensuing turmoil in the Roman Empire.
Plot
First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the plot of the historical play. It tells of a conspiracy formed against the great ruler, Julius Caesar, by some of his closest subordinates. These traitors were Marcus Brutus and Guy Cassi (Shakespeare, “Julius Caesar” 15). They opposed Caesar becoming an emperor and decided to build a plan to kill him. Julius was warned several times about the impending setup, and even his wife saw the death of her husband several times in a dream, but he did not take these warnings seriously.
This decision led to the fact that Caesar was brutally murdered by the conspirators, who were subsequently expelled from Rome. Mark Antony, Caesar’s right-hand man, takes up the fight against the civil war that began after the ruler’s death. One of the reasons for this event was that many members of the society considered Caesar a tyrant, while on the other hand, many revered what was done by him.
Power and Authority
Honor and Manipulation
An important component that plays a significant role in understanding concepts such as power and authority in Julius Caesar is the situation. This characteristic creates a mood and understanding of the author’s period. Thus, Shakespeare indicates that the main events of the tragedy take place during the political upheaval in Rome. In other words, this process implies a significant struggle for power and for everyone who aspired to it and could do everything to achieve it. This was the reason for creating a conspiracy against Caesar, leading to the death of the leader and the main conspirators.
These events focus attention on such a question as the source through which power and authority can be achieved. In the studied play, this aspect implies such approaches as honor and manipulation. Although Caesar gained power through conquest, he did a lot for the Roman people. This was manifested through military achievements and generosity for subordinates, which added honor to him in the eyes of many. However, many members of society still viewed him as a tyrant, which only worsened their situation. The play says, “Who else would soar above the view of men/And keep us all in servile fearfulness” (Shakespeare, “Julius Caesar” 12). This shows that despite the power and authority that the future emperor held, not all people supported and adhered to his word.
The conspirators used such an approach as manipulation, with the help of the assassination of Caesar, trying to show the people that they had saved them from the main problem. Therefore, such protagonists of the tragedy as Cassius and Antony masterfully used their skills to persuade people who were divided into several camps. Shakespeare shows the role of such a trait as language and rhetoric in gaining power and authority, especially when persuasion becomes the primary goal. Thus, it becomes an effective instrument in conveying the point of view that a particular character wants to convey to the public to gain more power than the opponent.
Consequences
The consequences of power and authority described in the tragedy should be particularly important. The main one, which becomes the leading topic of the play, is the growth of such aspects as conspiracies and mystical events. Research stated that “the death of the rulers has been heralded and followed by mysterious events and/or apparitions as if nature is concerned with the development of affairs around authorities” (Kloutse 80).
Hence, in Julius Caesar, several people warn him that an attack is being prepared on him, the purpose of which is murder. In addition, Calpurnia, the beloved wife of Caesar, has disturbing dreams in which he sees the death of her husband, about which he is also warned. However, the fact that those who committed treason also die under somewhat unnatural circumstances adds even more mysticism to this kind of narrative.
Dehumanization
Another aspect of power and authority touched upon in Julius Caesar is dehumanization. This characteristic is emphasized in how the ruler conducted his actions and treated those subordinate to him. It is noted that “Caesar’s deprivation of his peers provokes hatred and malice and instigates a counter-reaction of ruthless dehumanization against him” (Al-Abdullah 86). Julius’s main goal was to gain superiority through persuasion and gaining power over others.
At the same time, an essential characteristic of this policy was the rejection of violent actions and the emphasis on monopolization. However, this policy did not achieve the desired results, as it only ignited more opposition to the ruler. Therefore, William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is a timeless exploration of political power, ambition, and the consequences of authority. The play delves into the intricate dynamics of power struggles, betrayal, and the manipulation of public opinion in ancient Rome.
King Lear Play Analysis
Plot
Shakespeare’s examination of authority stretches beyond mere political figures, delving into intricate family power dynamics. In the illustrious tragedy King Lear, the play delves deep into the dire aftermaths of a father’s tyrannical manipulation, as Lear’s ill-fated choice to partition his kingdom among his daughters breeds a web of trickery, disloyalty, and devastating misfortune.
The center of the narrative of the tragedy of King Lear becomes the rift of the royal family. The King wants to leave the burden rule and transfer it to his three daughters. As proof of their fitness and good intentions, he instructs them to tell how much they love him, saying, “Which of you shall we say doth love us most, That we our largest bounty may extend/Where nature doth with merit challenge” (Shakespeare, “King Lear” 12). He is not satisfied with the younger daughter’s answer, which leads to the fact that he divides the board between the older ones. Subsequently, this decision leads to fatal consequences. Daughters who have received power refuse their father and infringe on him. The central tragedy in this play is honoring flattery and taking it for true devotion.
Power and Authority
King Lear
The central theme of this work is the disclosure of how power and authority can affect the relationships of even the closest people. Initially seemingly a close-knit and loving family, the royal family becomes fragmented. This is because the two eldest daughters of King Lear were eager to gain power and had no warm feelings for their father. In other words, “King Lear fails to distinguish between genuine love and flattery, suggesting that he never had a close relationship with his daughters” (Khan 18). Hence, in contrast, they cite the youngest daughter, who truly loved her father but could not bring herself to flattery to gain his blessing.
This attitude towards the King demonstrates his exercise of paternal power. This is of particular value when considering the relationship between daughters and fathers. Despite his good intentions and desire to be assured that his children are loyal to him and his state, he made a big mistake. This was because King Lear treated his daughters as his employees from the perspective of his power and authority over them.
It is emphasized that “the closer the three daughters’ expressions are to the King’s discourse system, the more King Lear’s favor will be, which runs counter to this system” (AbdullaAlmaaroof et al. 1793). Thus, he received the same answer that would have been provided to him, for example, by servants who want leniency. This attitude led to the fact that King Lear faced betrayal, ingratitude on the part of women and their spouses, and the destruction of familial bonds.
Edgar and Edmund
Another example of how power and authority were reflected in the events in the tragedy King Lear is the stories of Edgar and Edmund. The men are the sons of the Earl of Gloucester, but Edmund is illegitimate, which limits his rights to his father’s inheritance (Shakespeare, “King Lear” 31). Thus, as in Julius Caesar, the Earl of Gloucester was faced with the fact that treachery was being prepared against him since the illegitimate son wanted to gain the father’s power. On the other hand, it is also an example of how the desire to gain authority and privileges can lead to the deprivation of values such as family relations and respect. Just like King Lear, the count also neglects his parental duties, as he does not perceive Edmund and Edgar as children of their father and deserve equal treatment.
Consequences
It is worth noting that Shakespeare, in this work, emphasizes such a consequence of power and authority as madness. King Lear faces this problem as he is forced to confront the loss of the power he previously possessed and a cruel betrayal. The realization that he made a mistake and succumbed to the flattery his daughters showed to get what they wanted haunts the King. In addition, the former ruler is experiencing difficulties with a sharp transition from strength and authority to being left with nothing. With this example, the author shows how strongly these phenomena affect the psychological state of people and how becoming an integral part of their lives can lead to undesirable circumstances.
The central aspect also becomes that the gradual coming to this awareness contributes to the main character’s redemption. Faced with the need to be on the run and experience many difficulties, he also gained self-awareness and reconciliation. King Lear acknowledged power’s negative consequences and influence on him and how it affected his relationship with his daughters.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study of Shakespeare’s tragedies King Lear and Julius Caesar provided a unique look at the topic of power and authority. Through an in-depth exploration of these phenomena in Shakespeare’s works, readers are offered profound insights into the intricacies of the human condition. Delving into this theme enables them to unravel the remarkable depth of Shakespeare’s character portrayals and his profound understanding of human conduct, rendering it an enthralling subject of scholarly pursuit.
Works Cited
AbdullaAlmaaroof, Ansam R., Layla Nazhan Hamid, and Ethar Riyadh Abdullah. “Applying Michel Foucault’s Power Theory in Shakespeare’s King Lear.” International Journal of Health Sciences, vol. 6, no. S5, pp. 1790-1796.
Al-Abdullah, Mufeed. “The Dialectics of Hostile Dehumanization in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: A Sociopsychological Approach.” Journal of Jordanian Modern Languages and Literature, vol. 6, no. 2, 2020, pp. 80-81.
Khan, Muhammad, Mujahid, Memona and Dr.SaralahDev. “Reconstructing Gender Dynamics: Exploring Father- Daughter Relationships through a Feminist Lens in Shakespeare’s “King Lear” Meritorious Journal of Social Sciences and Management, vol. 06, no. 2, 2023, pp. 19-22.
Kloutse, Biava Kodjo. “The Paradoxical Role of the Paranormal in Politics a Reading of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Macbeth,” Université de Kara, vol. 3, no. 006.
Shakespeare, William. “Julius Caesar.” Folger Shakespeare Library, no date. Web.
Shakespeare, William. “King Lear.” Folger ShakespeareLibrary, no date. Web.