In the story King Lear offers his three daughters an oppourtunity to have a big piece of land. All they have to do is say how much they love him, who ever says they love him the most gets the most land.
The first daughter to speak is Goneril. She tries to morph King Lear into her trap. This is her exaggerating. In her part of speaking we can tell she just wants the land and to be rich. Shakespear is trying to present Goneril as a liar and false person. We can tell her father falls into her trap a bit because he praises her. She is thinking you are an fool, she is feeling happy but scared. This is because her plan is working and if her father finds out she is lying to him she will be in deep trouble. For example, “Sir, I love you more than the words can wield the matter;Dearer than eye sight, space and liberety;Beyond what can be valued rich or rare.” She is trying to emphasis her love to get the biggest piece of land. King Lear gives her some land because he says “We make thee lady to thine and Albany” which means she gets some land. Shakespear presented Goneril as a greedy person.
The second daughter to speak is Regan. In the script we know she is thinking she is thinking, I don’t mind if I don’t get the land. She has two feelings in her body at this moment. These are she wants the land but she doesn’t mind. This is because the piece of land will be nice but she doesn’t want to be a selfish person. However She is not really bothered if she does not get the land because she is an honest and nice lady. Her main lines are ” Sir,I am made of the self steam metal that my sisteris, Only I come to short.” She is saying she is the same as her daughters and she don’t mind if she doesn’t get the land. King Lear responses as “To thee and thine hereditary ever remain fair kingdom.” This means you will have a fair amount of the kingdom. King Lear is starting to be gullible and stupid. Shakespear is presenting Regan as a honest and true lady.
The last daughter to speak is Cordellia. King Lear mentions her as an under dog for example, ” Cordellia, the youngest of the three what shall she do, stay and be silent.” King Lear is trying to proclaim her as an underdog. Cordellias response is “Noting my Lord.” This means she has nothing to say. We can tell she,Cordellia, is honest because it also means I don’t want the biggest land I’m happy as I am. King Lear was shocked by this, his response was, “How Cordellia, mend your speech a little.” King Lear would like to hear more from Cordellia saying she loves him. Cordellia finally says “Good my Lord, you have begot me, bred me, loved me and looked after me: I return those duties back as are right fit, Obey you, love and most honour you. Why have my sisters have husbands if hey say. They love you all? Haply I shall wed, that Lord whose hand must be taken my plight shall carry. Half my love with him. half my care and duty: Sure , I shall never marry like my sisters, to I have my father is all.” In his part Cordellia is trying to say you have done enough for me in life I don’t need anything more so I don’t want the land. We can tell Cordellia is a 100% honest with her father. Her father responds as, ” As thou sometime daughter.” Which means you are no longer my daughter.
We all know that King Lear is gullible because he praises Goneril who is a liar. He didn’t really take notice to Regan and she was a true lady and he says to Cordellia you are not my daughter when she is the most honest of them all.
Shakespeare has presented Goneril as an liar, Regan as an even and fair person. But mainly, he has presented Cordellia as the most honest person.
Recent Comments