Throughout this whole play, we see how King Lear’s daughters
are trying to slowly take away his power. They have his servants as well as
their servants treat Lear without any respect. They try to take away his
knights. Now because of their antics, he is acting childish and if he doesn’t
get his way, he would throw tantrums. His current tantrum is him not entering
his daughter’s house and staying out in the storm because they won’t allow his
knights to stay with them. His fool tries to reason with Lear saying, “O
nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is better than this rain-water out o’
door. Good nuncle, in, and ask thy daughter’s blessing! Here’s a night pities
neither wise man nor fool” (3.2 10-12). But Lear notices that storm owes him
nothing, just like his daughters, and neither have the option to treat him any
better.
Later on Lear meets Edgar, who he believes also fell to the
despair because of daughters. However,
Lear is in such denial and has such a childish state of mind he can’t believe
anything else. Gloucester also realizes
that his illegitimate son, Edmund, has betrayed him and his real son, Edgar, is
in trouble. Also that Lear’s daughter, Regan is working alongside Edmund trying
to find out about the invasion. In both families we see that the children are
trying to overrule and take over the parent’s roles. They are even taking
advantage of each other’s parents. Regan is using Cornwall’s sword to hurt
Gloucester.
In Act 4 we see that Goneril and Edmund are together and she
wants to take control of her household before she can becomes Edmund’s
mistress. It seems like she only likes men of power and not men who have
morals. When Albany comes back, he is disgusted with her and her sister and
what they have done to their father. He tells her, “What have you done? Tigers,
not daughters, what have you performed? A father, and a gracious aged man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick, Most barbarous, most
degenerate, have you madded Could my good brother suffer you to do it? A man, a
prince, by him so benefited!” (4.2 39-46). He wishes he could destroy her because of the
different nature or personality she has taken on.
In Scene IV, we see that Cordelia asks the doctor if there
is a way to cure Lear from his sickness. The doctor said the only thing that
can help right now is rest, which Lear has been deprived of . Cordelia is the
only daughter who truly cares about her father’s well-being. The other two
sisters are only concerned about gaining power. They don’t care what happens to
their father. Later on in act vii, Cordelia thanks Kent for showing kindness to
her father and Cordelia tries to wake up her father. He we somewhat comes to
it, he thinks he is in France, but doesn’t reject Cordelia’s kindness, the only
true kindness he’s ever seen by any of his daughters.
4 comments:
I like that you make a connection between the children of Lear and those of Gloucester. I think that Shakespeare likes to parallel stories, and having two sets of children being represented makes me question what is he trying to say about filial piety. With Edgar and Cordelia being the only "good" children, while Regan, Goneril, and Edmund are the "bad" children. It is also interesting to watch how Shakespeare deals with their respective powers throughout the play.
Regan is such a nasty human being. I like how you point out that she only goes after men who are just as devious. Cornwall and Edmund have ulterior motives that I am sure are very clear to Regan. She has a poor taste in gentleman and seems to attract (and pursue) men who will add to her wicked, yet powerful ways. If she was to take a male suitor who displayed some moral compass Regan would not be who she is in this particular play. She may, in fact,be attracted to men who have and know how to use power. Her father was King. Is Regans' taste in men the product of a King and an absent mother?
I made the connection between Gloucester and Lear’s children as well. Most of them, aside from Cordelia and Edgar, are portrayed as pretty despicable human beings. Edmund betrays his own father in order to gain a sizable inheritance. He has absolutely no loyalty to his father and does not hesitate to sell him out. This was completely unnecessary, considering the fact that Edgar was already banished and was most likely not going to receive any inheritance. Regan and Goneril are also two unlikable characters. They are willing to do whatever it takes in order to gain the most land from their father. This includes praising their father, whether their praises be truthful or not.
I really like how your blog focused on the children. It's funny to me how the children are the ones that are abusing and manipulating their parents. Their fathers are the one's who brought them into this world and raised them. Out of all the people you should expect to be able to trust, your children should be on the top of that list. However, that is very different in this play. I really liked your comment "Now because of their antics, he is acting childish and if he doesn’t get his way, he would throw tantrums." I, too feel that it is almost as if the roles are reversed- Goneril and Regan are taking things away from Lear, who in return is throwing childish tantrums. These relationships are very reversed.
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