By using his power and authority, King Lear, manipulates his three daughters, but gets deceived in return by Goneril and Regan. What the king plans to do is divide the kingdom into three and allow each daughter to rule a section. Ideally, he wishes for his daughters to take his responsibilities as king off his hands, but still be seen as a powerful and respected figure. Lear devises a test whereby he asks each of his daughters to express his love for him; the one, who flatters him best, will receive the greatest amount of land. Goneril is the first to proclaim her love to her father and states that she loves him as much as life itself. Regan clearly wants the best land just as much as Goneril; therefore, she goes above and beyond declaring
