Mistreatment Of Children In King Lear Essay

The mistreatment of elders is a serious issue seen throughout “King Lear” by William Shakespeare. Children are seen abandoning their parents who have taken care of them for years. The elderly are manipulated in order to benefit others. There are a few loyal people who do stay to take care of the elderly. This mistreatment can be linked to America in the present. In “King Lear” both Regan and Goneril abandon their father who has sheltered them for years. Once the sisters take all of their inheritance they do not want to help their father in his old age. “Dear daughter, I confess that I am old. Age is unnecessary. On my knees I beg that you’ll vouchsafe me raiment, bed and food,” (2.4.174-176). Even, after all, he has done for them, Lear is quickly thrown out by his children. This is seen in current times through retirement homes. Even though this is not as dramatic as throwing someone out and making them homeless it is the same idea. When a child no longer wants to care for their parents a retirement home is an easy place to dump them off on someone else. These people have received what they want from their parents and do not want to have their parents

Edmund, in his vain attempt to become his father’s successor, lies to Gloucester in order to make Edgar look like the villain. “But I have heard him oft maintain it to be fit, sons at perfect age and fathers declined, the father should be as ward to the son, and the son manage his revenue,” (1.2.75-78). Edmund makes an unthinkable statement when he tells Gloucester that Edgar plans to kill Gloucester. This manipulation is seen when people take control of the senile and coax them into doing something different then the senile person may have wanted. This action can be seen in political and economic matters like it does with Edmund and Gloucester. This manipulation is seen multiple times throughout “King Lear” and can be found in modern