Connection: Cornwall and Dictators

When looking at a work of fiction, we often only see the story that we read. We only look at its fictitious aspect. However, it is often important to look beyond the fiction and into the real aspects of the story. There are many parts of the story that also correlate into themes in the world. Some of these themes are seen in present day, others only in the past, but there are also a few that are reoccurring. In Shakespeare's King Lear there are so many themes seen in the world that Shakespeare may not have know. One of these themes is dictatorship. History has seen many dictators, and one of these dictators in the play is Cornwall.

A dictator can be described as someone who has complete authority over an area, and does as he pleases. A dictator would most likely control land, and upon that land he would invoke his wishes. He could do as he pleases. This is reminiscent of Cornwall. He is a Duke essentially owns land. Cornwall does as he pleases. An example of that is the fact that he has Gloucester's eyes plucked out against his will. Cornwall does this with a flick of the wrist. He summons his servants tells them what to do and executes his plan. However, in most dictatorships there is unhappiness. This is also evident in the resistance against Cornwall. When Cornwall is plucking out Gloucester's eyes, a servant questions Cornwall and they fight. Cornwall is wounded and eventually dies. This symbolizes the end of the dictator's rule.

Knowing about the connection between Cornwall and Dictators is important because it allows us to connect Shakespeare's work to a so called theme throughout history. Being able to do such things allows for readers to better understand the work through their own eyes. By knowing about modern themes, we can better connect literature to our lives. This is where the importance lies. Seeing it brings important insight to our eyes. That is the beauty of literature.