Does Being Happy Make you Elite?

Although it is easy to assume King Lear is the character with the most power, does he really have anything under his control? He can barely keep himself sane. Regan and Goneril seem to not have themselves in order either, believing that they can lie, steal, and cheat their way into power. In this case, could the elite be those who are happy?

They say “money can’t buy you happiness”. But these days, money can buy you Botox to make it look like a person is smiling, nice cars, and other luxurious items, just why can’t money buy happiness? Shakespeare’s play King

Lear seems to answer this question nicely with each of his characters. Regan and Goneril die displeased and doomed with all the power they can have. They had control over kingdoms, access to men (Edmund), and servants to do away with their father, and yet they still died angry and wanting more.

On the other hand, Lear and Gloucester come to terms with what they have done and understand their failings and misfortunes. Eventually finding the truth and happiness in their devout children, both die rather peacefully and almost in harmony with their fate. Shakespeare uses death as the great equalizer in this play, illuminating the differences between power and happiness, only to have the former taken away. So for those of us that are happy, should we feel elite?