Theme Of Loyalty In King Lear

Decent Essays
Show More
William Shakespeare’s King Lear is about the aging king of Britain, King Lear, and how he splits his kingdom among his daughters. King Lear steps down from power and divides his kingdom between his daughters: Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Major themes in the play are loyalty, treachery and duplicity of human nature, reconciliation, and justice. These themes are presented in speeches that show the development of major characters in the play. The theme of loyalty is presented in speeches that contribute to the development of major characters in the play. Characters that were loyal are Cordelia and Kent. Cordelia and Kent remained loyal to King Lear even though King Lear punished them. Though being disowned by her father, Cordelia remained loyal …show more content…
Goneril and Regan professed their love to King Lear. However, in this speech, Cordelia got to point and told King Lear how she felt. She said that Goneril and Regan were being disloyal to their husbands: “Why have my sisters husbands if they say / They love you all (I.II.99-100)?” Cordelia said this quote because her sisters should show much of their love and duties to their spouses rather than to King Lear. Cordelia said that “when I shall wed, / That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry / Half my love with him, half my care and duty (I.II.100-102).” Cordelia will obey, love and honor her father, but she will reserve half of her love to her future husband. The way Cordelia presented this speech was interesting. Straight to King Lear’s face, Cordelia outpoured all of her feelings to her. Unlike her sisters, who were disloyal by showing more love to King Lear rather than to their husbands, Cordelia was loyal by showing half her love to King Lear and the other half of her love to her future husband. This speech contributed to the development of Cordelia. After being disowned by King Lear, Cordelia married the King of France. She becomes a compassionate person, which is shown when she forgives King Lear. Cordelia also fought against her sisters to gain back her father’s land. These actions show how Cordelia is devoted and loyal to King Lear. The theme of treachery and duplicity of human nature presents the development of major characters in the play. The characters that were duplicitous and treacherous were Edmund, Regan and Goneril. In his soliloquy, Edmund talks about how he is not treated with respect since he is an

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Loyalty In Shakespeare's King Lear
    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Loyalty In Shakespeare's King Lear

    King No Longer 1. Kent has returned to England because his loyalty towards King Lear surpasses his banishment. Kent has King Lear’s best interests in mind and does not trust Lear’s decision of allotting his kingdom to Goneril and Regan. Kent’s goal is to provide counsel to Lear and ensure Lear does not make any rash decisions. Kent’s devotion to Lear is evidenced when Kent states, Lear accepts the stranger for his flattering comments, talents, and honesty.…

    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Theme Of Human Condition In Macbeth
    • 1313 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Theme Of Human Condition In Macbeth

    William Shakespeare highlights enduring ideas about the human condition through the use of dramatic techniques in his tragedy plays. In his play Macbeth, Shakespeare effectively uses the dramatic techniques of character development, commentary by others and symbolism to reveal the enduring ideas of power, greed and ambition, along with its corruptive appeal; relationships and betrayal; and the common issues of loyalty leading to deception. These ideas are shown in exploring the tragic downfall of Macbeth. The enduring idea of corruptive ambition, including power and greed, is explored by the use of dramatic techniques of characterisation, symbolism and commentary by others.…

    • 1313 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Theme Of Destruction In King Lear
    • 1401 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Theme Of Destruction In King Lear

    “Lear’s egocentricity blinds him to the truth of his one loyal daughter, Cordelia, and Kent, his one loyal knight, making them appear to him the very opposite of what they are. ”7 Despite Kent going so far as to speak up “when majesty falls to folly,”8 he becomes but another casualty to the king’s…

    • 1401 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    Exploring The Theme Of Ambition In Shakespeare's Macbeth
    • 178 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Exploring The Theme Of Ambition In Shakespeare's Macbeth

    Shakespeare reinforces the theme of ambition throughout the passages of the book we have read so far in class, which caused aggressive behavior and regret. In the book there have been multiple themes in the book, but the one theme that stands out the most is ambitions. Ambitions have impacted the lives of multiple characters including Macbeth in his case causing regret. “I’ll go no more I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on ‘t again I dare not.”,(2.2…

    • 178 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    King Lear Injustice Analysis
    • 1067 Words
    • 5 Pages

    King Lear Injustice Analysis

    King Lear is played by his own two daughters who plot against him secretly. Gloucester A loyal man to King Lear also has several injustices done to him by his son Edmund. Edmund has a plan to ruin his fathers reputation inheriting his land and power. The driving force of this play is injustice. This leads to the development of the tragic tone of the play and identity of the characters.…

    • 1067 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Manipulation In King Lear
    • 2072 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Manipulation In King Lear

    In the very first scene of the play the idea of one having control over one's own fate is evident through the contrasting actions of Cordelia's to those of Goneril and Regans. In Act one scene one of the play King Lear decides to give control of his kingdom to his daughters with each daughter receiving a third of the kingdom. The kings’ only catch being that each of his daughters has to profess their love for him in order to receive their share of the kingdom. Lears two eldest daughters Goneril and Regan comply with Lear's request and both go onto and make outlandish declarations. For example, Goneril claim she loves Lear “No less than life” (I.i.57).…

    • 2072 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Dynamic Character In Macbeth
    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Essay On Dynamic Character In Macbeth

    Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s well-renowned plays that centralizes on a king’s struggle with guilt and, ultimately, the road to his demise. Although Macbeth was known for being a man of bravery and honor, Shakespeare utilized a plethora of literary devices to showcase that his ambition had overcome his state of mind. In Macbeth, Shakespeare used strong dynamic characters, significant motifs, and powerful soliloquies to develop the theme that the ultimate desire for power has the capability to tempt even the most noble men to be driven to corruption. To begin with, Shakespeare uses a strong dynamic character to develop the theme that the desire for power can cause noble men to become corrupt. In Act 1, Macbeth concluded that the key to the…

    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Importance Of Self Knowledge In King Lear
    • 1441 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Importance Of Self Knowledge In King Lear

    Professor Prescott 25 March 2018 Growth through self-knowledge In King Lear, Shakespeare stresses the importance of self-knowledge and forgiveness. King Lear is a character who lacks self knowledge. However, he begins to learn how the quality is important as he endures through hardships. Lear’s life breaks down slowly after banishing the only daughter who loved him dearly. Lear gives most of his kingship to daughters who are disloyal and care less for his wellbeing.…

    • 1441 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Appearance Vs. Reality In King Lear By William Shakespeare
    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Appearance Vs. Reality In King Lear By William Shakespeare

    The theme of appearance versus reality is reoccurring throughout the play of King Lear by William Shakespeare. There is an evident contrast between reality as opposed to appearance. Reality is the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to appearance to be an idealistic or notional idea of them. Appearance is an imagination, while reality is an actual existence. In King Lear there are many characters that appear to be, what in reality, they are not.…

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Theme Of Gender Roles In King Lear
    • 1584 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Theme Of Gender Roles In King Lear

    The two daughters, Goneril and Regan, profess their utmost love for Lear while his third and youngest daughter Cordelia refuses to fuel his ego. This action shows Shakespeare challenging the traditional gender roles of women in the Elizabethan society by creating a female character that disobeys her father and shows independance. Despite Cordelia not receiving any inheritance from her father, she is still given power through marriage when she becomes wed to the king of France ‘Thee and thy virtues I seize upon [...] Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France’ (Shakespeare I.i . 252-57). Cordelia is not the only one who receives power from marriage, her two sisters Regan and Goneril do as well as they marry the dukes of Albany and Cornwall.…

    • 1584 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Consequences Of Decisions In Shakespeare's King Lear And Babel
    • 1372 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Consequences Of Decisions In Shakespeare's King Lear And Babel

    Many times in our lives we make decisions that we think are “innocent” and will have no complications, but sometimes those decisions create many problems that led to massive consequences. In King Lear and Babel, the decisions that were considered to be “innocent” led to monumental mistakes and many consequences. There are many terrible decisions made in King Lear, but the ones made by King Lear himself, in regards of his kingdom and daughters take the prize for having the most complications associated with them. From the first line of King Lear, we see that the decision of Lear deciding to divide his kingdom among his daughters was thought, to be honest, but in reality it was the decision that wrecked his entire life. The first mistake…

    • 1372 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Comparing Desdemona And Cordelia In Shakespeare's Othello
    • 1436 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Comparing Desdemona And Cordelia In Shakespeare's Othello

    Cordelia is a strong enough woman that she knows when it is time to back away and let things go. She accepts his faults, and does not let his faults define her. She goes on the marry a man, who’s “goodness” matches her own. He accepts her despite her lack of a dowry because of her father’s rejection. King Lear’s actions though out the rest play and the way the other characters manipulate him gives the audience reason to begin to also accept his faults and begin to forgive him for them.…

    • 1436 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Compare And Contrast King Lear And A Thousand Acres
    • 775 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Compare And Contrast King Lear And A Thousand Acres

    From the beginning of the play, King Lear was extremely arrogant, needing to be told by his daughters the extent to which they loved him. When Cordelia refused to appease him, he took away her dowry and sent her away with the king of France. Towards the end of the play, King Lear realizes the error of his actions and forgives Cordelia completely. At one point Lear even goes to prison with her, shunning all of his previous…

    • 775 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Human Condition In Shakespeare's King Lear
    • 1010 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Human Condition In Shakespeare's King Lear

    This is shown through the use of verse and hyperbole of “I love you more than word can wield the matter” where the greed for land is what drives Goneril to say nice words.. However, the irony of lear failing to differentiate authenticity or deception of love results in misjudging Cordelia for feigned love, instigating social, personal and self-conflicts for both lear, his daughters and the society. This plot drive will not only foreshadow complications but also result in the sacrifice of Cordelia and Gloucester. Shakespeare’s use of epiphany of Lear, is shown by misperceiving Goneril’s love with flattery which is portrayed through Goneril’s plosive language, contrasting the poetic language in verse present in the division of the kingdom, exemplifying Goneril’s greed for land the deceptive love expressed for Lear. This parallels with the double plot of Gloucester…

    • 1010 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Importance Of Self-Knowledge In Shakespeare's King Lear
    • 1164 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Importance Of Self-Knowledge In Shakespeare's King Lear

    Self-knowledge or “understanding of oneself, one 's character, abilities or, motives” is seen in Shakespeare’s King Lear (dictionary.com). Both King Lear and Gloucester place their trust in the wrong child, and it ultimately leads to their downfall. Both Cordelia who is the daughter of King Lear, and Kent who is a nobleman under Gloucester remain true to themselves and retain self-knowledge. Cordelia and Kent continuously speak the truth and fight to remain honest and loyal even though it bodes serious consequences for them and their companions. Cordelia is a voice of reason to father King Lear, and her sisters Regan and Goniril.…

    • 1164 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings