The Family Tragedy

Historically, the family is one of the most common metaphors for political power. Kings presented themselves as fathers of their people, and philosophers as august as Aristotle have suggested that political rule is an outgrowth of, and related to, the rule of the family. As a way to cover over and soften the harsh realities of power, few images are as beguiling as the loving hand of a father defending and guiding his “family”—a community tightly bonded by a shared way of life.