When we began reading King Lear, I did not feel bad for Lear because I thought that he was being childish. When he banished Cordelia for not taking his land, I felt bad for her because she was being honest with her father. Also, when he asked for 100 servants to be by his side and Goneril and Regan did not allow it, I thought that he was being selfish. Since he was being a guest in both Goneril and Regan’s home, he should have been considerate with his idea.
However, after reading Act III, I began to have more sympathy for King Lear. Especially in Act III Scene 4, where he was expressing his feelings to the storm, he felt betrayed and forgotten. “In such a night as this! O Regan, Goneril, Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave all” (Shakespeare 137). As a father, he did give them everything they desired. Even though he favored Cordelia, he still granted all of them with enough security. Why did Cordelia not take his offer? She could have taken the land and made her father happy. Why did his other two daughters dismiss his servants? That is all he asked for. when he split up the land.
Now King Lear is outside in the storm looking for answers on why he is being treated so poorly. What I would like to know is who is really acting childish and/or selfish in the story? Is it Lear or his daughters?
I agree, Carolyn. In the beginning of the play, it was easy to see Lear as the antagonist. This is because, at first; he seems to be a man in constant need of testimonials of his daughters’ love, but as the theme of nature became evident, I also began to have sympathy for King Lear. Although Goneril and Regan believe so, it is not old age and dementia that is causing their father to go insane. In fact, maybe he is not insane at all. Maybe Lear is only suffering of regret due to his decision to banish the only child that truly appreciated him.
ReplyDeleteKeri, you bring up an interesting point. Maybe Lear is not going insane at all. Maybe he is grieving the loss of his one daughter who truly loved him. The regret of banishing Cordelia is finally setting in and Lear is facing internal conflict. To answer your question, Carolyn, "Who is really acting childish and/or selfish in the story," I believe Lear's daughters, Goneril and Regan, are taking advantage of their father's mental instability. They profess their false love to their father to obtain land. In my opinion, his daughters act selfish in the play. Lear lacks wisdom, which I think plays a major role in his decision to banish Cordelia. Therefore, I do not fault Lear for such an action. Instead, I feel sympathy for the king. He has lost everything; both his family, as well as, his mental stability.
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