Cordelia In Shakespeare's King Lear

Improved Essays
Cordelia who was not known to express her feelings because she hated extend in the words, despite the deep love that the Secretary has hidden to her father and her country. It was Cordelia ridiculous reply, stupid awareness, such as Ophelia in Hamlet, although knowledge of corruption, subtle and lied sisters, they did not provide the challenge and resistance, for its part, and the duty of pious to confront the forces of corruption and thwart his plans and revealed his lies. Colderidge has committed on beheviour of Cordelia 'There is something of disgust at the ruthless hypocrisy of her sisters, and some little fault of pride and sullenness in her'.(MecDonald,2004:28). As well as, the true love crushed by two Machiavellian sisters of Cordelia. …show more content…
This clear vision is given by Shakespeare in his characters throughout the artistic drama, parallel in behaviours both Iago in Othello and elders' daughters in king Lear' in crushing the true love by villains characters. Harrison has pointed out of view 'It was to him infinity pitiable that the ideal love of Desdemona and Othello should be fouled and destroyed by such a creature as Iago; that Lear, for all his follies, should be tortured by his evil daughters; that the bastard Edmund should cause the death of …show more content…
Likewise, Harmon observes the most problems in Shakespeare's plays is referring to the significance of law for solving the most problems in his artistic drama like is in Measure for Measure, Troilus, and Cressida, All’s Well That Ends Well, The Merchant of Venice, Henry V, and etc… . ' It is my contention that Shakespeare’s problem plays illuminate ameliorative roles that law can play in the drama'.(2004:3). The important subject as long as minds filled of the critics and philosophers this question "was Shakespeare as a lawyer". The scholar Edmond Malone in the eighteenth century has suggested that ;Shakespeare before becoming an actor might have spent some time as a lawyer's clerk, thus, this clear reflected the law in his plays, the plays contain a good deal of legal to terminology which is a reference to the law. Although, his plays may be simply but ensures an obvious role of law directly for catering to the interests of his audience and reader.(Armstrony,2011:9). So to the question “was Shakespeare a lawyer?” we must reluctantly answer, “probably not”. Nevertheless, Shakespeare has influenced the law for four centuries thus far and will continue to do so, perhaps for eternity.

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Shakespeare’s play Othello is a tragedy revolving around jealousy and the power it has over people. In Othello, a husband who was undeniably in love with his newly wed wife was easily able to murder her after believing she had been unfaithful. However Othello was only so easily convinced by his so called companion Iago, an evil man whose evil nature was the cause of the destruction of the tragic hero. Iago’s jealousy fueled plan was able to follow though due to his lack of emotions and his deceitful ways, and in this play it is seen how a little jealousy can go a long way.…

    • 1020 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Shakespeare’s 17th century tragedy ‘Othello’ explores universally recognized themes dealing with the self and a social environment such as jealousy, manipulation and how they can accentuate human flaws. These issues are encountered by Iago in his soliloquy and great insight is given through many techniques and developed characteristics; giving insight on Shakespeare’s overall intentions. This soliloquy enhances and shapes the audiences understanding of the play through language techniques, dramatic irony and character insight. Much of Iago’s plots to perform a the plan, which leads Othello to his jealousy inspired demise, are shown in this soliloquy. Throughout ‘Othello’ the main backbone of the play is the concept of jealousy and human flaws which are explored in Iago’s soliloquy; not only…

    • 1115 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Cordelia display maturity for she personally did not battle and plead for her position to stay within the kingdom. During the Renaissance society it was consider improper for a woman to speak unless spoken too, this is why Kent argues to have King Lear to think rationally…

    • 1550 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    When characters, such as Othello, Bianca and Emilia use good judgment and reason to govern their actions, they are able to attain their fantasies through restraining anger, managing jealousy and exercising self-control. Similarly, a dream world is also made possible for Othello and Desdemona by acting in selfless love and a desire for the others’ wellbeing. On the other hand, when Othello and Cassio put their best judgment at Iago’s disposal, Iago was able to manipulate their passions and make them abandon their self-control and act with rage and envy. Through Shakespeare’s use of heavenly and hellish imagery in “Othello,” he depicts the world of wish that results when one allows their actions to be ruled by love and reason, but also the nightmares that are caused when one allows themselves to act upon passions and emotions that are controlled by…

    • 1985 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The tragedy of Othello was highly influenced by Iago’s manipulation of perception. This was illustrated, when Iago exploited Rodrigo’s unrealistic and self-serving love for Desdemona. Also, including when Iago willfully misled Cassio’s judgement by utilizing his fixation with class. And notably demonstrated, with Iago as he precisely disoriented Othello’s reassurance in his wife, Desdemona’s faithfulness. Othello was fused to the idea of an uncertain reality that was deliberately deceived by Iago.…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Foil Characters In Othello

    • 1000 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Othello, the Moor of Venice is a story of great jealousy and the downfall of a once noble man. Deception and jealousy consume the majority of characters and tangle others into the conflict as well. Throughout this play, there are two female characters deeply entwined in the plot with active role in its progression. Emilia triggers the major conflict by bringing Othello’s handkerchief to Iago for him to use in his plan. As Iago manipulates Othello with the handkerchief and lies, Desdemona is left to bear its consequences.…

    • 1000 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Theme Of Trust In Othello

    • 1639 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Shakespeare’s introduction of the characters allows him to communicate Othello’s calm and composed state of mind as a result of his balanced trust between Desdemona and Iago. Through Othello’s rationale behind loving Desdemona, Shakespeare displays the resulting strong bond of trust between the two and its impact upon Othello’s mental state. Amidst the controversial announcement of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage, Othello declares that “[Desdemona loves] me for the dangers I [have] passed,/And I [love] her for that she [does] pity them” (1.3.166-167). Here, Othello asserts that he loves, and in extension trusts, Desdemona because of her ability to support and validate him. This history of loyalty and ‘pity’ refers to the basis of Othello’s…

    • 1639 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Unparalleled in his ability to prey upon the insecurities of those he wishes to ruin, Iago is one of Shakespeare’s most destructive villains. He plants the seeds to destructive plots that are aimed to exploit the fundamental nature of other characters. With his use of garden metaphors throughout the play, Iago exhibits his effectiveness as a villain in being able to nurture and manipulate the tangled roots of human nature Throughout the play, Iago views the other characters through the lens that they are all wild plants, and that he, as a gardener, will bring under his control. Early in the play, while starting his plans to bring about Othello’s downfall, Iago tells Roderigo that, “Our bodies are our gardens, to which the wills are gardeners”…

    • 847 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, he shines light on the extremely popular theme of literature, good versus evil. In Othello the forces of goodness and nobility, Desdemona, Emelia, and Cassio, go up against the forces of evil, Iago and eventually Othello. Despite the audience constantly hoping that the pure innocent and side of the conflict will prevail, however the audience is left with a dismal of despair when Iago’s malicious doings and Othello’s irrational actions prevail with the murder of Emelia and Desdemona and the suicide of Othello. Throughout the play Shakespeare reveals the true purity and grace of Desdemona.…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    While often regarded as an Elizabethan playwright, Shakespeare’s career straddled two epochs: the reign of Queen Elizabeth (1562 to 1603) and the reign of King James (1603 to 1625). While it is notoriously difficult to find details about Shakespeare’s personal life, he taps into what was happening around him in his writing. This was the year in which two of Shakespeare’s best-known plays were crafted: Macbeth and, the subject of this notebook, King Lear. The latter play tells the story of the titular King Lear, who at the start of the play demands declarations of love from his three daughters (Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia), that he might divide the kingdom among them based on their devotion to him.…

    • 1365 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Othello becomes a tragedy of incomprehension where hate, manipulation and revenge derive from the arrogant and blinded nature of the characters and their interactions with one another. Within the Aristotelian tragedy of ‘Othello’, the attribute of incomprehension creates the ultimate downfall of Othello through Rodrigo’s initial and prevalent manipulation by Iago to further his plans, Iago’s inability to comprehend Othello’s genuine trust for him which fuels his blinded revenge and Othello’s incomprehension of Desdemona’s loyalty towards him which leads to his jealous rage and in turn, his death. Alongside Othello’s gradual buildup of jealousy throughout the play by Iago’s masterful plans, the downfall of Othello ultimately demonstrates the…

    • 1242 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    While every Shakespeare play claims to be the one with Shakespeare's greatest villain, scholars contend that the choice is between Iago of Othello and Lady Macbeth of Macbeth. While neither can difinitively claim the prestigious title, both are clever, manipulative, greedy villains who will do anything to further their ends and destroy their story’s protagonist. Iago’s idea of revenge is destroying Othello and causing him the very grief which Iago himself feels. Lady Macbeth’s power hungry scheme to make herself queen ends up killing everyone she loves, especially herself. Both characters fill the archetype of the Shakespearean villain, characters with enormous capabilities to do heinous crimes, know not only for their evil natures but also…

    • 1193 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    As Iago feeds the fire of jealousy for Othello by causing drama with Desdemona , the consequences are horrifying. Shakespeare illustrates how revenge can drive people to take extreme actions. One way William Shakespeare illustrated revenge is when Iago plots his revenge for his love for desdemona. He describes it in the play as “ a web in which he will catch a fly” In the plot of the story Iago is in…

    • 1309 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The forces of good are powerfully embodied by Desdemona in the play Othello (1603) written by William Shakespeare, however evil ultimately prevails leading to her death and the tragic downfall of Othello. The virtue of goodness is evident in the characterisation of Desdemona, foregrounding her inherent morality, and strength, but more prominently evinced in her dying proclamation of her wholehearted commitment to Othello. However, the opposing, destructive forces of evil, evident in the character of Iago, finally triumph through his skilful deceit and manipulation. Evil, which seeps into Othello’s heart through Iago, overpowers his love for Desdemona and turns it into a jealous rage causing his transformation from an honourable hero to a disgraced…

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Cordelia loves Lear more than her sisters do, but because she is unable to “heave” her heart into her mouth, her integrity prevents her from making a false declaration in order to gain his wealth. Lear’s rage at what he expects to be her lack of affection sets the tragedy in motion. Cordelia’s refusal to flatter Lear, then, establishes her virtue and the authenticity of her love, while bringing about Lear’s dreadful error of judgment. Cordelia understands that her father, even though she may see him as a great man, even he has his faults. His rejection of her during the beginning of the play symbolizes the beginning of the end for their relationship.…

    • 1436 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays