Loyalty In King Lear

Loyalty is a comparative term that describes different levels of commitment and support of another, depending on the circumstances. From deeply rooted to non-existent, loyalty can be witnessed in William Shakespeare’s King Lear. This idea of loyalty has numerous layers though. Yet, by the end of the play, it comes down to loyalty being temporary. It’s a scary idea that people are often only loyal because of circumstance, and when situations don’t play out as we’ve planned we turn our backs. Although no one wants to talk about it, we’ve all given up on loyalty at some point. One of the first times we see such allegiance is as Goneril professes her love to her father in the opening act of the play. Goneril expresses, “Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter” (Shakespeare and Gill I.i.54). She is telling her father that her loyalty is so extreme that its expression is beyond words. We later learn Goneril isn’t as crazy about her father as she lets on, thus showing how loyalty for her is a disguise. In …show more content…
This rings true as Glouster starts to be tortured. He believes his son Edmund is loyal to him, but when Regan explains to him that Edmund is the one to have turned in Glouster for treason, this brings on a new form of torture by hurting Glouster emotionally with the news of his sons dishonestly. Regan goads Glouster, “Thou call’st on him [Edmund] that hates thee; it was he That made the overture of thy treason to us” (Shakespeare and Gill III. vii. 85-6). Regan informing Glouster of Edmund’s true feelings shows how loyalty can be defined as leverage. She understands that the loyalty Glouster thinks he has with Edmund can be used to her advantage as to injure Glouster in a new form. Although it can be seen as cruel, I admire Regan to realize that she has leverage over Glouster, and that the truth will hurt him in a new