ABSTRACT
The present paper stands on the proposition that family conflict and rivalry are ubiquitous. However, conflict and rivalry need to be resolved for the smooth functioning of society according to the theory of functionalism. Literature plays a vital role to help resolve family conflicts. It portrays the universal nature of conflict, its repercussions, and the ultimate need to resolve it to live in peace since family conflict is normal; it’s the repair that matters. This paper reflects the universality of knowledge shared in different texts and contexts by analyzing and comparing The Shipwrecked Prince, a Kashmiri folktale that reverberated in the valley of Kashmir since times immemorial, and King Lear, Shakespeare’s 17th C tragedy. Family Conflict Theory forms the basis of understanding as content analysis of the two stories is undertaken to portray the generality of human societies and human nature through the lens of literature.
