King Lear

                    King Lear is a play written by William Shakespeare that focuses on the relationships of many characters, some good,
                    some evil. This is a great tragedy that is full of injustice 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 righteous people
                    are recognized as such. There is great treachery and deceit involved in the hierarchy of English rule. The great mistake in
                    this play was made by Lear when he decided to divide up his kingdom to his three daughters. In order to determine 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
                    heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty according to my bond, no more no less."(I,i, ln 91-93) Lear becomes enraged
                    and casts her off saying, "Here I disclaim all my paternal care, propinquity and property of blood, and as a stranger to my
                    heart and me hold 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 being honest and true.

                    Another mistake that was made in the course of the play was by the Earl of Gloucester. After 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. Besides 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 can't believe that Shakespeare was trying to portray her as a spoiled, prideful child. I do not believe
                    she was foolish in her decision to restrain 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. In her asides she
                    says, "What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent"(I,i, ln 62), and after Regan spoke, "Then poor Cordelia; And yet
                    not so, since I am sure my love's more ponderous than my tongue."(I,i, ln 76-78). It is obvious that she loves her father,
                    but she can't express it the way in which Lear wants her to. Because of this, she is disowned and sent away to France.
                    The King even refers to her as, "Unfriended, new adopted to our hate, dow'red with our curse, and strangered with our
                    oath."(I,i, ln 203-204). Cordelia's love for her father was shown further when she received the letters concerning Lear's
                    mental state after being mistreated by his two other daughters. It was said that, "now and then an ample tear trilled down
                    her delicate cheek."(IV,iii, ln 12-13). Cordelia then orders for some of the French soldiers to bring Lear to her so that she
                    can look after him before the war between Britain and the French soldiers begins. Her love was further displayed when
                    she says, "But love, dear love, and our aged father's right. Soon may I hear and see him!"(IV,iv, ln 28-29). Because of all
                    of this, I firmly believe that Cordelia truly loved her father and was only being honest when she refused to profess her love
                    for him in order to rule a portion of Britain.

                    Besides believing that Cordelia was true in her response, I also think that Lear was acting as a fool when he disowned his
                    only loving daughter. He made a monumental mistake when he handed over British rule to his two evil daughters, Regan
                    and Goneril. This is what eventually led to his mental breakdown and the deaths of many of the heads of Britain. If he had
                    only chose to keep control over his kingdom or to give up control to someone trustworthy, no one would have had to
                    suffer as they did. Some people knew he was committing a terrible folly, especially the Earl of Kent. This is apparent
                    when he says, "Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak when power to flattery bows? To plainness honor's
                    bound when majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state, and in thy best consideration check this hideous rashness.(I,i, ln
                    147-151). Lear ignores this plea and even banishes Kent, who returns later, disguised as a servant. Another person to
                    recognize his mistake is the fool. In one of his rhymes, he says, "That lord that counselled thee to give away thy land,
                    come place him here by me - Do thou for him stand. The sweet and bitter fool will presently appear; the one in motley
                    here, the other found out there.(I,iv, ln 133-140). After giving all his power to Regan and Goneril, they reject him, kicking
                    him out of their houses. This treatment of Lear drives him mad and he wishes that he had never given away his power or
                    disowned Cordelia. This can be seen when he states, "No, you unnatural hags! I will have such revenges on you both that
                    all the world shall-I will do such things-What they are, yet I know not; but they shall be the terrors of the earth.(II,iv, ln
                    273-277). It would take an entire book to explain all the ramifications of his great folly. However, I can say that the
                    deaths of Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and of himself may be attributed to his mistake. He also caused a war between
                    Britain and France that should not have occurred. I believe it is clear that Lear acted as a fool when giving his land to
                    Goneril and Regan, but not to Cordelia. 

                    Another character who was very foolish in distinguishing between good and bad children was the Earl of Gloucester.
                    Edmund, a bastard son of Gloucester, tricked him into believing that his brother, Edgar wanted to kill him and take his
                    inheritance. He wrote a phony letter which implied all of this. Gloucester became outraged and gave all his trust to
                    Edmund. He even declares, "O villain, villain! His very opinion in the letter. Abhorred villain, unnatural, detested, brutish
                    villain."(I,ii, ln 74-76). Edgar then convinces Edgar that he should flee because his life is in danger. He also believes
                    Edmund, so he leaves his home and ends up hiding in a cave. Gloucester again takes Edmund completely into his
                    confidence when he informs him that he was going to try and help Lear when he was out in a storm, even though he was
                    given strict orders by Regan and the Duke of Cornwall. Edgar immediately tells Cornwall of the information he has just
                    learned. He says to himself, "This courtesy forbid thee shall the Duke instantly know, and of that letter too. This seems a
                    fair deserving, and must draw me that which my father loses-no less than all. The younger rises when the old doth
                    fall."(III,iii, ln 19-23). This treachery by Edmund ultimately leads to Gloucester having his eyes gauged out. Despite the
                    efforts of Edgar to take care of him and restore his desire to live, Gloucester dies of a broken heart. Edgar explains, "His
                    flawed heart - Alack, too weak the conflict to support - twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, burst smilingly.(V,iii,
                    ln 197-200). Edgar ends up killing Edmund, which means that Gloucester's folly resulted in the deaths of both he and
                    Edmund. It is very clear that the Earl of Gloucester can be considered a fool for taking Edmund into his confidence.

                    Overall, this play was full of evil and treachery. However, justice seemed to be served somewhat at the end. I do believe
                    that Cordelia was very good-natured and was the only "true" daughter of King Lear. In a play full of evil people, she was
                    one of the only honest and loving. It is amazing that only through great hardships, such as Gloucester having his eyes
                    plucked out, could he and Lear receive true insight.
