| Description |
Houses are important spatial constructs. In general, they are thought of as homes, as places where the dweller is comfortable, as centering points. The old adage that "a man's home is his castle" is a way of saying that a house becomes a sacred, rather than a profane, space for its owner. A house also is the outward display of the internal composition of the dweller. In Shakespeare's King Lear, the conflicts and changes between characters and within some characters can be viewed in terms of the house image. Lear's house effectively reflects his inward self. At the beginning of the play, Lear's house encompasses all of his kingdom. The house itself reeks of materiality, ceremony, and power. The very reason that Lear wants to divide his kingdom in thirds, three times the show of affection, indicates Lear's concentration on external display at the expense of truth. |
