It is surprising that Shakespeare's King Lear is not treated as a comedy. Its portrait of a power-hungry nobility only serves to mock the monarchical system. Lear's two eldest daughters deceive their own father in order to obtain his wealth in land, and Edmund the bastard cannot stop killing and lying to climb the ranks of royal succession. This treacherous nature of the monarchy is exactly what makes it so ridiculous. Most importantly, Shakespeare depicts the tragic life of King Lear, an abdicated ruler. The play centers on Lear's struggle to maintain the respect of his subjects and the love of his daughters, only to lose it all. With these examples, Shakespeare makes an astute comment on the superfluousness of the ruling class, and Lear's plight becomes a stand-in for Shakespeare's attitude toward the "nobility." Shakespeare wrote King Lear around 1606, which coincides with the reign of King Lear. James I, who ascended the throne in 1603, succeeding Elizabeth I. Although he was a supporter of the arts, James "expressed his belief in an absolutist theory of monarchy and the divine right of kings, desiring to command not only complete obedience but also complete devotion" (Bengtsson). Since Elizabeth had already established an equal relationship with Parliament, the British government became uneasy. Furthermore, many Protestants, including Shakespeare himself, feared that religious persecution would resume as before Elizabeth. In fact, James passed the Popish Recusants Act, "an act to cause persons [existing Protestants] to be naturalized or restored by blood to conform [to Catholicism] and to take the oath of allegiance and supremacy [to the pope]” (Burton). From his actions, one can see how Eng...... middle of paper ...... neglect of the government's true purpose: leading the people. In this way, The Tragedy of King Lear becomes a critique, illustrating Shakespeare's attitudes toward the flawed ruling class of his time. Works Cited Bengtsson, Frederick. “Historical Context of William Shakespeare’s King Lear.” Columbia College. Np, and Web. January 19, 2014. “Mary, Queen of Scots.” » BBC News. BBC and Web. January 20, 2014. .Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. The Tragedy of King Lear. New York: Washington Square, 1993. Print. Burton, Edwin, Edward D'Alton and Jarvis Kelley. “Penal laws”. The Catholic Encyclopedia. Flight. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. January 21. 2014. .