One who is thought to have been innocent and true to herself and to others around her would surely prove that justice exists by showcasing her own life. However, this is not the case with another secondary character, Cordelia, in Shakespeare’s King Lear. Although Cordelia gave her honest response to her father and always protected her father, she faced a cruel death that Shakespeare’s audience could not withstand. When asked to proclaim her love to her father, she refused, not because she was proud, but rather she thought it was unnecessary to play a role in this comical situation. She herself said that she “cannot heave / [her] heart into [her] mouth” (I.i.100-101). In this way, she did not want to be like her sisters and proclaim false love.
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Even Kent knew that she was an upright girl because he begs Lear to rethink his decision since his “youngest daughter does not love thee least” (I.i.171). Kent also gives his blessings to Cordelia in his hopes that “the gods to their dear shelter take / thee, maid, / That justly think’st and hast most rightly said” (I.i.206-208), which we, as the audience, think will come true. Cordelia was so caring towards her father, she wanted justice in order for good to reign over evil. Although, when France was starting to lose the war, Cordelia and Lear were taken to prison and were sent to be executed without the knowledge of the country. In this case, Nemesis would play an especially important role to prove her worthiness to the audience by lifting this death sentence from two innocent characters. Even Lear believed that retributive justice would rule and they would be alive as he delightfully exclaims that they will “wear out, / In a walled prison, packs and sects of great ones / That ebb and flow by th’ moon (V.iii.18-20). Unluckily, Cordelia had one of the worst outcomes in this play that it was necessary to provide an alternative ending in which Cordelia lives (Ristad
Even Kent knew that she was an upright girl because he begs Lear to rethink his decision since his “youngest daughter does not love thee least” (I.i.171). Kent also gives his blessings to Cordelia in his hopes that “the gods to their dear shelter take / thee, maid, / That justly think’st and hast most rightly said” (I.i.206-208), which we, as the audience, think will come true. Cordelia was so caring towards her father, she wanted justice in order for good to reign over evil. Although, when France was starting to lose the war, Cordelia and Lear were taken to prison and were sent to be executed without the knowledge of the country. In this case, Nemesis would play an especially important role to prove her worthiness to the audience by lifting this death sentence from two innocent characters. Even Lear believed that retributive justice would rule and they would be alive as he delightfully exclaims that they will “wear out, / In a walled prison, packs and sects of great ones / That ebb and flow by th’ moon (V.iii.18-20). Unluckily, Cordelia had one of the worst outcomes in this play that it was necessary to provide an alternative ending in which Cordelia lives (Ristad