King Lear :: English Literature Essays

mogul Lear King Lear is a conform to written by William Shakespeare that focuses on the relationships of some characters, some good, some diabolic. This is a owing(p) tragedy that is full of hurt at the beginning and the restoring of justice towards the end. The good are misjudged as evil and the evil are accepted as good. It is not until the end of the play that the blameless people are recognized as such. There is nifty treachery and deceit involved in the hierarchy of English rule. The great mistake in this play was made by Lear when he mulish to divide up his kingdom to his three daughters. In order to chance which share each should get, he had each of his daughters give testimonies of love for him. Cordelia, the youngest, refused to go overboard with her statement. When asked for her testimony, she simply replied, Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my tenderness into my mouth. I love your Majesty according to my bond, no more no less.(I,i, ln 91-93) Lear becomes enrage d and casts her off saying, Here I disclaim all my parental care, propinquity and property of blood, and as a stranger to my heart and me dare this from thee for ever.(I,i, ln 113-116). Some think that Cordelia was prideful, or even a fool in her response, but I believe she was simply existence honest and true. other mistake that was made in the course of the play was by the Earl of Gloucester. afterward being tricked by his bastard son, Edmund, into believing that his other son, Edgar, was plotting to kill him, he put all his faith in Edmund, which would eventually lead to his demise. in like manner believing that Cordelia was being true and honest to her father, I think that Lear and the Earl of Gloucester were fools, regarding the banishments of their righteous children. After reading this play, I found it hard to believe that Cordelia was being anything but true in her simple proclamation of love for her father. I cant believe that Shakespeare was trying to portray her as a spoiled, prideful child. I do not believe she was foolish in her decision to withhold from trying to persuade him into giving her a larger portion of his kingdom. I think it was apparent early that Cordelia was struggling with what she was going to say to her father.