Introduction
Shakespeare’s representation of the English Renaissance is featured by the imagination and picturing of the grief, which was the essential element of the Renaissance literature. Originally, King Lear is the play, created to reveal the theme of grief, sorrow and decline (both political and economic). The key topics, that are aimed to discuss the political background of the play are the justice, that authority and chaos, and, finally, reconciliation.
Historical Age
First of all it is necessary to mention, that the historical period, Shakespeare lived and created in was featured by the bloom of the philosophical considerations on the matters of perfect community, and the attempts to understand the matters of life, death, and history. The period of Shakespeare’s life was the period of the outstanding reigning of the Queen Elizabeth I. It was the period, when England became the blooming and leading European country, as the naval, and commercial spheres were rapidly developing. (Dollimore, 1994).
The basic assumptions of the feudalism were openly challenged at that time with the support of Elizabeth, and then her successor John I. It was reasoned by the optimism for the human destiny, and the position of England in the world, as success promoted the further optimism, even in spite of the fact, that destiny may be rather changeable. Shakespeare, in his turn, preferred discovering the human nature, as regardless of the historical period. The human nature is not dependent on the economic welfare of the country, political power, which is on the throne, and the development level of the science. Shakespeare reveals the fact, that human is only interested in material. Almost all the characters in “the Tragedy of King Lear” think only about the inheritance and power, while those, who aim to get spiritual wealth, get expatriated. (Falco, 2003).
Regarding the matters of historical materialism and the issues of new historicism it should be emphasized, that these approaches are rather similar in the context of the representation of human nature and the view of the world, which looks idealistic. Literature of that period is regarded as the provider of these idealistic views, as the rascals and villains get punished. On the other hand, new historicism presupposes literature as just the mirror of the time.
The politics of renaissance represents numerous views, closely linked with human freedoms and dignity; however, King Lear is the complex for analyzing the issues of his politics through the prism of Renaissance, as this play is multi-layered and represents numerous aspects of monarchism, human nature and the issues of inter-human relations.
Understanding King Lear
The historical context of the play is rather multi-faceted. On the one hand, the action takes place in the Eight century BC. On the other hand, it is claimed to describe the human nature from the viewpoint of the Shakespeare’s time. It has numerous references for the Bible. Moreover, it represents the feudal structure of the society that appeared in the Middle Ages. The cultural Materialism that was first described by Marx is the politicized form of historiography. This approach does not provide the space for literary analysis and interpretation, as literature is just the mirror of the history, and should be realized from the context of historical events.
The political and economic power of the King, represented in the play may be analyzed as the decline of the feudal system, and the advancement of the Renaissance views in Europe, when the human life was appreciated the most. The aspects of the transitional economy should also be regarded as the consequences of the Renaissance, as the Discoveries and the developing trade system required the improved and deepened economy structure, thus, the feudal system appeared to be outdated.
Cordelia, here, as the symbolization of the betrayed class, also stands for the sincerity and openness in human relations, but she is misunderstood and mean nature of the humanity gains the upper hand. From the viewpoint of cultural Materialism, it is necessary to mention, that the human nature fully corresponds the actual truth, and is represented without any decorations and concealment. The image of the mean human nature is added by the concept, that the nobility possessed immense power, which they wielded at their own discretion. This power was over the human and even family relations, as it may be observed with the example of how Regan and Goneril used their power to betray their father and aimed to gain the kingdom. Actually, this is attributive for the theater of that time, as the convention of the theater of that time required not to decorate the reality, and the creation was encouraged only in the plot, but not the things, that are steady throughout the times, such as human nature. Again, arguing on the matters of historical materialism theory, the notion, that Regan and Goneril used their power to gain the more superior power reveals the fact, that materialistic approach to the history and culture appears to be constant and unchangeable all through the times, as the issues of avidity and willingness of power lived and will be living until the humanity exists. Moreover, the convention of the theater, including the positions and provisions on the basis of historical and cultural materialism was aimed to create the plays, which included the achievements of the Renaissance, as theater should correspond the epoch, and the issues of materialism were developing rapidly at that time. (Stoll, 1927).
Lost Realities and Concerns
As it has been stated, the critical approach of analyzing Shakespeare’s “Tragedy of King Lear” is mainly based on historical and cultural materialism, that started developing during the Renaissance period, some aspects of the plot and analysis may be missed. The fact is that, the personal motifs by Shakespeare in creating the play are completely ignored. Unfortunately, it is impossible to get to know his real motifs, so, some significance of the play is lost somewhere in history. Actually, we know the message, and can decipher the codes left in the text. On the one hand, this miss leaves the huge space for the analysis and thinking over, on the other hand, without knowing the real motifs and the ruling forces, that forced Shakespeare to write this play, the critics can not realize all the themes and messages, which would change the whole cognition process of Shakespeare’s creativity, and would probably change the entire approach of creating the plays. That is why it is also necessary to take into account the age and the period, during which the play was created, as it is the key factor for realizing the historical context, and, consequently the central themes, motifs and symbols.
References
Bradshaw, G. (1993). “Misrepresentations: Shakespeare and the Materialists” Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Dollimore, J. (1994) “Political Shakespeare: Essays in Cultural Materialism” Cornell University Press Publishing.
Falco, R. (2003). ”Is the Renaissance an Aesthetic Category?” 45. Shakespeare Studies. Volume: 31. Publication Year.
Stoll, E. E. (1927). “Shakespeare Studies, Historical and Comparative in Method” New York: Macmillan.