King Lear Research Paper
KI
Jason Augusto
English 4U
Mrs. Dunn
June 13th, 2011
King Lear King Lear is a story full of greed, betrayal and the want for power. These three qualities is what leads to the disasters. King Lear is reaching the time when he is getting to old and needs to give his power and land to someone else. Lear has three daughters Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Lear’s method on choosing one of his daughters to inherit his power and land is to recite their love for him but in a way that would be suitable for a husband/lover and not a father. Out of all sisters Cordelia is the only sincere one and expresses her love in an honest and father/daughter suitable way. The other two daughters tragedy happens due to their jealousy towards eahcother for the …show more content…
love of Edmund. Greed, betrayal and the want for power also occurs with Gloucester and his two sons (Edgar and Edmund) also in the hunt for inheritance. The Bible warns that “ A house divided against itself cannot stand”. This quote applies in King Lear and we see it in the situation with King Lear and his daughters, Edmunds desire in power from Gloucester, and the jealousy between Regan and Goneril for the love of Edmund.
King Lear’s love test is to prove to him who loves him more and will determine who will inherit his power and possession between the three daughters.
Goneril and Regan express their “love” in a way suitable for a husband rather than a husband. When Cordelia expresses her way in a honest way and not the way her sisters had, Lear gets angry because he thinks Cordelia doesn’t love him as much as his sisters do and so he punishes her. Cordelia isn’t given a dowry for a husband so Burgundy refuses but France offers to make her his queen. King Lear gets upset at this news but doesn’t really mind because he thinks his other daughters love him most anyways. Lear and his Knights move into Goneril’s palace but he is treated rudely and not loved. “His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us on every trifle” (1.3.7-8). Through her actions it is obvious she doesn’t love Lear and isn’t claiming the same love she was when she wanted his land and power. Lear feels unloved and moves to Regan’s Palace but is treated exactly the same. His one daughter who showed honest love for him isn’t even living in the same country anymore due to his ignorant actions. Now Lear is without his daughters due to Cordelia moving to France, and the fake love that his two others daughters expressed that he later on
realises.
Gloucester has two sons Edgar and Edmund and he is looking for one of the sons to take over his land. Edmund is a bastard child and the only way he has access to his land is if Gloucester announces that he wants him too. Since Edmund wants to gain power he goes against his brother Edgar and Gloucester.
Jason Augusto
English 4U
Mrs. Dunn
June 13th, 2011
King Lear King Lear is a story full of greed, betrayal and the want for power. These three qualities is what leads to the disasters. King Lear is reaching the time when he is getting to old and needs to give his power and land to someone else. Lear has three daughters Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Lear’s method on choosing one of his daughters to inherit his power and land is to recite their love for him but in a way that would be suitable for a husband/lover and not a father. Out of all sisters Cordelia is the only sincere one and expresses her love in an honest and father/daughter suitable way. The other two daughters tragedy happens due to their jealousy towards eahcother for the …show more content…
love of Edmund. Greed, betrayal and the want for power also occurs with Gloucester and his two sons (Edgar and Edmund) also in the hunt for inheritance. The Bible warns that “ A house divided against itself cannot stand”. This quote applies in King Lear and we see it in the situation with King Lear and his daughters, Edmunds desire in power from Gloucester, and the jealousy between Regan and Goneril for the love of Edmund.
King Lear’s love test is to prove to him who loves him more and will determine who will inherit his power and possession between the three daughters.
Goneril and Regan express their “love” in a way suitable for a husband rather than a husband. When Cordelia expresses her way in a honest way and not the way her sisters had, Lear gets angry because he thinks Cordelia doesn’t love him as much as his sisters do and so he punishes her. Cordelia isn’t given a dowry for a husband so Burgundy refuses but France offers to make her his queen. King Lear gets upset at this news but doesn’t really mind because he thinks his other daughters love him most anyways. Lear and his Knights move into Goneril’s palace but he is treated rudely and not loved. “His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us on every trifle” (1.3.7-8). Through her actions it is obvious she doesn’t love Lear and isn’t claiming the same love she was when she wanted his land and power. Lear feels unloved and moves to Regan’s Palace but is treated exactly the same. His one daughter who showed honest love for him isn’t even living in the same country anymore due to his ignorant actions. Now Lear is without his daughters due to Cordelia moving to France, and the fake love that his two others daughters expressed that he later on
realises.
Gloucester has two sons Edgar and Edmund and he is looking for one of the sons to take over his land. Edmund is a bastard child and the only way he has access to his land is if Gloucester announces that he wants him too. Since Edmund wants to gain power he goes against his brother Edgar and Gloucester.