While reading Act I Scene I of Shakespeare’s King Lear, one is led to ask the question, "How does one truly express love?" The question continues to grow as the text becomes more confusing. Shakespeare shows two different ways of expressing love; through words and through actions. He clearly shows that conveying love through words is questionable simply because people tend to lie or stretch the truth. This form of expressing love is seen through King Lear’s daughters, Gonreil and Regan.
Goneril and Regan are able to form great speeches about how they love their father more than life itself. They state that he takes up one-hundred percent of their love and they would do anything for him. This appears to be a great gesture until reading on throughout the rest of Act I and noticing a flaw in both Goneril and Regan’s actions. In the end of Act I, scene I, the two are seen plotting against their father when he leaves the area. Instead of continuing to praise their father, stating their love for him, they come up with a plan to diminish his power. They do not truly love their father; instead they are merely using him to gain their inheritance. Goneril and Regan both expressed their love of King Lear through words, leading one to believe that this expression of love cannot always be valid.
In contrast to Goneril and Regan, Cordelia expresses her love solely through actions. When asked by Lear to express her love through words, she states that she is unable. She says that she can only love him as a daughter loves a father, no more and no less. She believes that she cannot express it better than her sisters through words because she thinks that what they say are lies. She only expresses her love through her loyalty and compassion for her father. This shows signs of loving her father. She appears to be loyal to him and to cherish him as a father; however, she is unable to convey it through words. It is apparent that Cordelia loves her father the most of all three sisters because, while she cannot express it through words, she is able to redeem herself through her actions. She remains loyal to her father and does not plot against him with her sisters.
I completely agree with you in terms of Cordelia being the only one with legitimate love and Regan and Goneril taking advantage. But at the same time, maybe it's for the best that they take some of the king's power away...?
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying that I agree with their motives or their methods; what I mean is that I'm pretty sure that the old king is growing senile. Actually I'm pretty positive about it, since Regan states "'Tis the infirmity of his age." That being said it makes no sense for him to be sitting there listening to them saying how the love him with "100%" of their love and love "him alone more than life itself" and not look at his sons-in-law and question his daughters' love for their husbands. Unless he's completely insane, senile, an absolute idiot or a combination of the three, I don't understand how he could take them seriously. Even I as the reader had trouble believing them, and then my feeling of mistrust toward them was later confirmed.
What I'm saying is maybe its not a bad idea for a senile old king to be so powerful. I believe that he stated that he was giving his real power to Cornwall and Albany: however I was a bit confused as to whether he meant at that moment or in the future...
I must disagree with you, Kristin. I feel as if Goneril and Regan are neither being deceitful nor lying to their father. I feel as though the reader does not have enough insight into the mindset of the two sisters before they make their declarations of love, thus we cannot judge if they are lying or not. While it is pointed out that Cordelia may love King Lear more, the play does not tell us anything about Goneril's or Regan's feelings. And who is Cordelia to be calling her sisters liars? We cannot completely listen to her asides without full knowledge of Goneril's and Regan's thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that although the two plot against their father, I feel it is not out of spite or hatred, but rather their love. Sometimes to help someone you may have to hurt them, but it is done with good intentions. King Lear is not fit to be in control with his harsh and rash actions. I feel their plotting is justified. The two were not seen speaking slanderously of him; they were looking out for him and those around him.
Also, you say that Goneril and Regan are seen plotting against him to selfishly gain more inheritance. I disagree with this as well. The two already have their share and part of Cordelia’s, what more do they need? If they truly are selfish and just using their father then there really is no more point in tearing him down. They already had what they wanted; there are no more benefits they can reap from him. Thus, since they have no more to gain, I think their plan simply reinforces the fact that the two are just looking out for their aging father.
As for Cordelia, I feel she is just lazy. She does not want to express her love nor plot against her father. What does she want to do? "Nothing." She just leaves with the King of France and that is it. King Lear's anger towards her is somewhat justified. He is trying to help her and give her the best dowries and husband but she cannot even say she loves her father. He asked her for one simple favor. This favor should have been easy if she had loved him so much. it. She has no right to then judge her sisters when they speak highly of the king. In fact, contrary to what you said, I think her actions show how much she does not love her father. She does not show love through her actions or her words. She is ungrateful and disrespectful. For example, if your parents offered to give you a brand new car and all you had to do was tell them you loved them, what would you do? Tell them you have nothing to say? No, you would just tell them you loved them. It should not be hard if that is truly how you feel. While your father is trying to give you part of his kingdom, a little common courtesy, respect and thankfulness should be in order.