Lears tragic fall proceeds from his misuse of power in Act 1

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Lears tragic fall proceeds from his misuse of power in Act 1, Scene 1

In Act 1, Scene 1 or King Lear Shakespeare shows Lear attempting to divide up his kingdom between his three daughters yet still wanting to keep the status of King and also keep his authority whilst not having the responsibility of caring after the peoples or the lands.

Lear has decided to split his kingdom up between his three daughters and says ‘which of you shall love us most, that we our largest bounty may extend,’ this shows his plans to hold the love test where his daughters must profess to Lear the extent of their love for him. The daughter who says they love Lear the most will be given the most bountiful and therefore best share of the lands. Gonerill must speak first professing in a rehearsed way that she loves Lear ‘more than word can wield the matter,’ thus saying she loves her father so much that it is impossible for her to convey it in words, yet she continues to say that he is ‘dearer than eyesight, space and liberty,’ thus saying that he means everything top her. In response to her confession Lear gives a third of his kingdom ‘To thine and Albany’s issues be this perpetual.’ Thus proclaiming that the land will always be in Gonerill and Albanys family, left on to their ‘issues’ (children). It is argued that the use of his power to make his daughter tell him they love him is a misuse of his power as they may just be speaking the words out of duty and greed at wanting to secure a section of the kingdom

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Following on from Gonerills speech it is Regans turn to announce her love for her father, she values herself as being ‘made of that self-mettle as’ her sister. Thus saying that she deserves as good a part of the kingdom as Gonerill. In response to her Lear gives her a ‘third of our fair kingdom, no less in space validity, and pleasure than that conferred to Gonerill,’ giving them both an equal share of the kingdom. His again misuses his power in his treatment of his daughters as if her is giving them equal shares than the love test is ...

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