Shakespeare's King Lear described the negative effects of power resulting in destruction caused by the children of an authority figure. Through lies and constant hatred, the characters have maintained a greed for power causing destruction in their families. Lear's daughter and son Gloucester lied to inherit power. Edmund, son of Gloucester, planned to eliminate his brother Edgar from his inheritance. Edmund desired all of his father's power, lying to his gullible brother and his father aided him in his plan for total authority as well as destroying their lives. As Gloucester's bastard son, Edmund wanted to receive all the power intended for his brother, Edgar, who was Gloucester's legitimate son. Edmund declared his disapproval of his brother: “Why should I/ stand in the plague of custom, and suffer/ the curiosity of nations to deprive me/ for this is about twelve or fourteen moonshines/ delay of a brother? Why bastard?”(1.2.2-6). Edmund wanted the respect and love that Edgar received even though he was Gloucester's bastard son. He claimed that he was not much younger or a "younger brother", so he should be considered as intelligent and skilled as any legitimate son. He cultivated hatred towards Edgar and to get rid of him he convinced his father that Edgar had betrayed him through a letter. The letter Edmund wrote said, “If our father would sleep until you wake him, you / should enjoy half his income forever, and live / your brother's beloved, Edgar” (1.2.55-57). Edmund portrayed Edgar as the son who would kill Gloucester only to inherit his money and share his inheritance with Edmund. Gloucester believed Edmund, sending guards to kill Edgar for his treachery... middle of paper... made Lear curse Goneril and Regan for not caring for him but for ruining his life. Goneril and Regan's selfishness for power overwhelmed them leading to their lies that they loved their father and his power would never be returned so they could inherit all of his power. Hatred and desire fueled Goneril, Regan, and Edmund to lie to gain their parents' power which leads to destruction within their family. Edmund's hatred was continued by the memory that he was only Gloucester's bastard son, prompting him to lie to them both, ultimately ruining his father's eyesight and his brother's identity. Goneril and Regan got rid of their father while maintaining his power by lying about who loved him most and taking his knights away from him. From King Lear, Shakespeare concluded that greed and power are capable of ruining a family.Works CitedShakespeare, King Lear