King Lear
The play King Lear is one the most parents can relate too. A king decides to solve the problem of his kingdom after his death before he dies. He asks his three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia, to each tell him how much they love him. Depending on their answers is how he will divide the kingdom. Goneril tells him that "I love you more than word can wield the matter" (I, i, 55). Regan than comes back to tell her father that she loves her father as much as Goneril but more so than her sister has said. When it comes to Cordelia?s turn, she simply says "Nothing" (I, i, 87). Lear gets upset by this statement and banishes his youngest daughter out of his kingdom and divides his assets between his two oldest daughters. Later, Lear realizes his mistakes when his daughters start to show their true feelings for him. They may love him, but just because he is king and they want to inherit his kingdom; so they work to stay in his favor. When King Lear finally realizes that his youngest was saying that she did truly love her father when she said nothing, it is too late to change the past.King Lear is the classic story of a son or daughter trying to show their father or mother that they love them and everything they do is for them. Some parents concentrate more on the faults of their child than on things they should be proud about. When the child realizes this, they make more efforts to show their parents that they have accomplished much and should be proud of them. I am thankful that my parents are not like this and sadden that some parents are. My parents see both my accomplishments and my faults. They don?t pressure me to do things that they want me to do that I can?t or won't do.
The one thing that struck me the most about this play is the fact the King Lear was so blind to his youngest daughter's love, but could see his two oldest daughter's love as the real thing when it wasn't. It was almost like he didn't know his daughters loved him and wanted to believe that they did with their false words.
The one question that I have is how a father being so oblivious to his daughters? To not know that he is loved for himself and not his position, crown or money?
Written by J. Morgan 1999
© 2005-2008 J. Morgan
