Social illusion can be defined as a perception, as visual stimuli that represent what is perceived in a way different from that that it is in reality (online dictionary). The play King Lear by William Shakespeare and the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley compare the two perceptions of social illusion and reality with regard to the ideals induced by society. Both Huxley and Shakespeare attempt to expose the social illusions of their respective times. In both texts, the authors recognize the implicit advantage of birthright in society and the illusion of its role in determining one's character. In King Lear, those of low birth are considered inferior to those born of nobility. Edmund is an obvious victim of this illusion. Where Edmund's entire identity in society revolves around his ignoble birth. Edmond asks why “should I / find myself in the scourge of custom and allow / the curiosity of nations to deprive me /… Why bastard? why the base?/... Why do they mark us/With the base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base? » (1. 2. 2-11). Since Edmund's birth was the result of a marital breakdown, society classifies him as a bastard child. And because of his birth, Edmond is excluded from the inheritance granted to children of noble birth. Being born into the marriage bond of Gloucester makes Edgar a legitimate child, who constantly overshadows his bastard brother Edmund. And as Edgar is Gloucester's only "real" son, he receives all the privileges of his father. Although Edmund is in no way physically or mentally inferior to Edgar, stating that "[his] dimensions are as compact,/[His] spirit as generous, and [his] form as true" (1. 2. 7-8 ) . This degrading treatment is the origin of an illusion based on the Renaissance period, where...... middle of paper...... represents the true nature of emotions, freedom and beauty (Huxley 240). And with his well-developed mindset, John might even be superior to the citizens of the World State who are aware of nothing other than the illusions that condition them. Thus, Edmund and John were classified as opposed to their true natures based on their birth, due to the moral delusion of their society. In conclusion, both King Lear and Brave New World make distinctions between social illusion and reality. The novel and play societies wrongly believe that birth defines a character, which is false. Edmund and John challenge this misconception through their own characters. Shakespeare and Huxley use their texts to highlight the need to distinguish what is real from what others believe to be real, as the two are very different..