Critique of the Political Philosophical Interpretation of King Lear

摘要

Discussion of Shakespeare's tragedy within political theory has been largely dominated by the followers of Leo Strauss, who tend to read Shakespeare as affirming ancient conceptions of virtue and natural right. Most critics ignored the basic premise which has been hidden behind Lear's behavior of division: the conception of modern nation-state has not been shaped and accepted by most people. We will be found that there is no necessary connection between Lear's division and male heir or the eldest son of the principle of inheritance system. Critics pay more attention to the phenomenon of morality or ethical issues of the dram. They didn't have a good grasp of the problem: the destruction of moral ethics was the direct consequence of the alienation of political power.