Second Treatise of Government
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Preface Chapter 1: Of Civil-Government Chapter 2: Of the State of Nature Chapter 3: Of the State of War Chapter 4: Of Slavery Chapter 5: Of Property Chapter 6: Of Paternal Power Chapter 7: Of Political of Civil Society Chapter 8: Of the Beginning of Political Societies Chapter 9: Of the End of Political Society and Government Chapter 10: Of the Forms of a Common-wealth Chapter 11: Of the Extent of Legislative Power Chapter 12: Of the Legislative, Executive, and Federative Power of the Common-wealth Chapter 13: Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Common-wealth Chapter 14: Of Prerogative Chapter 15: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, considered together Chapter 16: Of Conquest Chapter 17: Of Usurpation Chapter 18: Of Tyranny Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government
Themes
All Themes Nature, War, and Civil Society Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government Power and Absolute Monarchies The Dissolution of Government
Quotes
Characters
All Characters John Locke Sir Robert Filmer Sir Richard Hooker Thomas Hobbes King James I King William III
Terms
All Terms Common-wealth Prerogative State of Nature State of War
Symbols
All Symbols Nature
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Genre Hyperbole Logos Metaphors Mood Motifs Setting Similes Style Tone
Upgrade to LitCharts A+
Instant downloads of all 1915 LitChart PDFs (including Second Treatise of Government).
LitCharts Teacher Editions. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does.
Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts.
The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of every Shakespeare play.
Literature
Guides Poetry
Guides Literary
Terms Shakespeare
Translations
Ask
LitCharts AI
Ask
AI
Literature
Lit
Poetry
Lit Terms
Terms
Shakescleare Ask AI

Second Treatise of Government

by

John Locke
Download this LitChart! (PDF)
Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Second Treatise of Government makes teaching easy.

Second Treatise of Government Symbols

Nature

In the Second Treatise of Government, nature symbolizes absolute monarchies. In an absolute monarchy, a supreme power—usually a king or a queen—holds complete and total power over all people and property, and that power…

read analysis of Nature

Nature Symbol Icon
Home About Contact Help
Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
Terms Privacy Privacy Request
The LitCharts.com logo.
Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account
You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to request a guide
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account.
You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to access notes and highlights
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Saving guides requires a free LitCharts account
Easily access your saved guides anytime.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to save guides
Already have an account? Sign in