Clothing in King Lear.

Thesis In King Lear, Shakespeare creates a direct parallel between the clothing a character wears, and the power they wield. When we are wearing garments of power we are oblivious to reality, so only be removing the trappings of power can we gain true perception.

Slide Historical Around the time of this play in England there was the beginning of what would become the middle class. Rich merchants were able to come into a lot of money even though they were not of noble birth. They spent money mainly on clothing that flaunted their wealth. These people then went to court and around town showing off. This offends the aristocracy. They believed that commoners should not be able to dress as well as nobility because then nobody could tell them apart. Laws established by Elizabeth’s father prevented commoners wearing specific items. – For example only royalty could wear clothing trimmed with ermine, lesser nobles could wear fox and otter, and so on. – On June Queen Elizabeth I created laws called ‘Statutes of Apparel’ which addressed new superfluities of silks, cloth of gold, and other foreign clothing items (Lear was written in 1603) In a way this is society condemning people who put on clothing they do not deserve. Shakespeare’s play is addressing this social issue In Lear Kent’s abuse of Oswald – ‘a tailor made thee’ is a reflection of the noble disgust toward commoners who dress like nobles. Kent asserts that Oswald has no right, and that his status is caused only by his tailor. Oswald is the kind of lower class who rises up through clothing. Direct polar opposite of Kent and Edgar, who are noble, but are dressing down

Kent Pretends to be a humble gentleman (not a high ranking earl) and is thus able to aid his King. Edgar Wears the clothing of a beggar, of a commoner, and gains perception. As a Earl’s son nobody ever told him he was slow witted, and he never had any reason not to trust people because he was protected by his authority. However when this causes his downfall and he loses the vestiges of power, Edgar is able to develop cunning and bravery. Lear As King of England nobody would ever question him. He grew vain and selfish because nobody ever took him down a peg. Once his Hamartia ruins his life, and Lear is forced to wear rags people treat him like a normal person and he becomes more loving and altruistic. Oswald Formerly the manservant to the King’s eldest daughter he was used to doing what he was told. After the abdication Oswald’s clothing reflects Goneril’s increased wealth, and it makes him arogant. Oswald gets into a fight with Kent (who vastly out-ranks him) and is protected by his new clothing/power. He is killed in the end because he does not deserve his authority.

Lear in regal clothing. As his costuming becomes more worn out, this reflects his fall from power. Fools hat used as a symbol – tries to give this to Lear, to make the point that a) he has made a fool of himself, and b) he has nothing. “We are born naked, and everything else is drag” – Ru Paul. What you wear defines who you are in society. Link between identity and clothing. “Unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art.”- Lear III iv When Lear loses all his money and has to dress like a peasant he is treated badly by those in power. Through his mistreatment he gains a sense of shame for his deeds and empathy for Cordelia. In Lear, clothing is used to give the impression of authority. Characters like Oswald and Goneril put on clothes of authority even though they deserve none.

Act IV, Scene vi (168) pg 297 Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office.-- Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand! Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back; Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener. Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear; Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold, And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks; Arm it in rags, a pygmy's straw does pierce it. None does offend, none.--I say none; I'll able 'em: Take that of me, my friend, who have the power To seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes; And, like a scurvy politician, seem To see the things thou dost not.--Now, now, now, now: Pull off my boots: harder, harder:--so. Even a cur would be obeyed if he were in an office of power The clothing of the poor does not conceal even the smallest evil, whereas rich clothing hide all The strength of justice is no contest for sin protected by wealth. But protect sin with rags and even a piece of straw would pierce it.

Disguise used extensively in comedy (Viola as Cesario in Twelfth Night, Masquerade scene in Much Ado About Nothing, etc.) but this is the only major tragedy in which disguise plays a big part. Disguise in Lear not used to trick or hide, but to clarify reality. Those who disguise themselves gain understanding about themselves and the situation. E.g. Kent – pretends not to know Lear, so that he can be with Lear again when Lear has banished Kent. This allows Kent to aid Lear Edgar – as Tom of Bedlam he is able to see what people really intend. What they think about him and his father. Being in disguise means he can not be naïve as he must deal with real world problems. This new strength leads to his cunning and Edgar is therefore able to help Gloucester. Disguise

Summary Clothing is used to signify power. Those who have power are dressed more extravagantly. It is established that clothing does not make the man. A man may have dressed up very well but have no legitimate claim to authority. People who have the clothing of power, or the undeserved power, are able to hide their wickedness and mistakes. Whereas those with little status must deal with their problems. Consequently this play asserts that there is more to being a leader than the office of power. One needs more than the authority and trappings of a position to be a good leader of men. A good leader would not need authority nor fancy clothing to lead. Lear was always protected from criticism by his royal robes and so be became selfish- he suffered for his bad deeds. Edgar was given the opportunity as Tom O’ Bedlam to learn about himself and the world and thus became a good leader.