Piper, Spencer, Bailey, Ronald, and Mackenize 

A Liquid is, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, flowing freely like water, not being a solid nor gas, something that holds its volume. Liquidity, according to Investopedia, is the conversion or receiving of an asset that is transferred with ease and remains in its current form. Cash is the liquid asset according to Investopedia, but in the context of King Lear, the liquid asset might be considered the kingdom’s property or wealth. Swapping is the exchange of one thing for another according to the Oxford dictionary. This can be financial or non-financial and is in essence a trade between two or more parties/individuals, which can be seen with multiple examples within the play, King Lear.

King Lear freely gives away his land or assets to his daughters in exchange for compliments and flattery, which demonstrates liquidation. He makes this offer bluntly when he declares, “Interest of territory, cares of state– Which of you shall we say doth love us most, That we our largest bounty may extend” (Act. 1, Sc. 1, King Lear). Additionally, when Edmund leads on both Goneril and Regan with his affections, it demonstrates a human’s ability to swap between people easily, to move attention from one person to another without much thought. This all stems back to the human condition, which is characterized as the behaviors that define human existence. People committing fraud, having property(ies) liquidated/swapped, etc. are all elements of the human condition and have always been. For example, when the school’s administration threatened to cut adjunct teachers during the pandemic this is an example of them attempting to liquidate an asset. They practiced bad faith when they failed to work with the teacher’s union during the pandemic. Another example of fraud in terms of swapping would be taking someone else’s work and presenting it as your own. Environments and circumstances can change; however, the conditions surrounding certain financial aspects are always similar. 

Human emotions and reactions can differ wildly depending on the situation, financial or not. What is “right” and “wrong” has changed over time and can still be objective even today. What might be “fraud” to one might be considered a justified retaliation to another, which can lead to people getting caught up in bad practices. For example, Lear has practiced poor judgment and gave status and holdings to the daughter who fed him the best compliments and comments: not based on merit or skill to run a kingdom. Deception is often heavily involved with swapping and liquidity, the end results benefit one person and negatively affect the other, people are deceived and tricked into being expelled from their homes.  

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