King Lear

1) “One ought to be both feared and loved; but it is difficult for the two together, it is much safer to be feared than love’’

Shakespeare King Lear reflects Machiavelli’s idea through the character King Lear. Lear acts in a rude and cruel way towards his beloved daughter, Cordelia, as well as his loyal servant Kent by banishing them from the country.

“Here I disclaim al my paternal care, Propinquity, and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee from this forever.”(1.1.25-8)

Lear does not know the meaning of true love. This appears in Act 1 scene 1, he relates love to money. Cordelia and Kent understand the meaning of true love. Cordelia does not want to deceive King Lear like her two sisters by saying she loves him the most. Kent love is associated with loyalty to King Lear. Kent was willing to die rather than living without him “"I have a journey shortly to go, my master calls me, I must not say no’’. Kent and Cordelia prove their love to King Lear by accepting his banishment rather than seeing him doing a mistake that will leads to his death. King Lear banishes both Cordelia and Kent because he feels insulted and disrespected, so he tries to be feared rather than loved, as love is sometimes considered a weakness. Though, a very important characteristic of a good princes according to Machiavelli. King Lear thinks that if someone is loved, he can easily be betrayed, while fear brings caution and safety.

2)“Those who rise from private citizens to be princes merely by fortune have little trouble in rising but very much in maintaining their position’’

Edmund, Gloucester’s bastard son, considers himself a victim of disgrace due a mistake he did not do make. He feels that everyone hates him. Edmund cannot inherit land for the reason that he is not the eldest. In addition to the fact that Edmund is a bastard, he cannot earn the title of Earl according to the Great Chain of Being. “Wherefore should I stand in the plague...