It appears Lear has already decided to divide his kingdom, another action that would have startled his audience. Not only was he abdicating his throne, he was dividing the kingdom that made Great Britain. He also appears to have already decided to give a third of his share to each of his three daughters and we are to understand that he has even decided that his youngest, Cordelia would get the largest third.
– LEAR to CORDELIA: “… What can you say to draw a third more opulent
than your sisters? Speak.” – I-I-81.
Lear’s request for the declaration of love can only be put down to his capriciousness and vanity that would of made him ask for these profession of filial love to justify the decisions that he has already made.
Publicly the daughters have to proclaim him how much they love him, which is simply down to the deceitfulness and attention seeking ways of King Lear. While it will not appear immediately to the audience it is clear all Lear wants is to be flattered and praised.
From the beginning it is sensed that Lear is bad tempered, poignant and imperious – LEAR: “ Give me the map there…” – 1-1-33. This is proven when the third sister Cordelia, who is unmarried refuses to declare all her love for him as she says she will only love him half as much as her husband.
– CORDELIA to Lear’s question: “Nothing, my Lord.”
LEAR: “Nothing?”
CORDELIA: “Nothing.”
LEAR: “Nothing will become of nothing.
Speak again.”
CORDELIA: “Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love you Majesty according to my bond; nor more nor less….” – 1-1- 81-89.
Lear’s reaction to this would of startled the audience as he solemnly swears that all family ties between him and Cordelia are now broken. He acts in a fit of violent passion and does not pause even for a moment to consider the cool assurance of what Cordelia has just said. After the speeches made by, Cordelia's two older sisters Regan and Goneril, both of whom’s are more grotesque and more exaggerated than each other’s, Lear is shocked the unexpected reply of Cordelia. Cordelia herself, who is shocked by the extravagance of her sisters’ replies, has nothing to say but this. But because she doesn’t explain her position her curt reply, which sounds unfriendly, triggers her father’s rage, bringing the worst out of him. Lear is fooled by his two eldest daughters and speeches, through which highlights his vanity for he only believes that they will speak well of him. His plan, however, is disrupted by Cordelia and proves the naiveté and arrogance of King Lear. Not only does it prove his insolence but also the fact that he has not thought it through carefully enough blinded by his own haughtiness and the fact that he believes he knows his daughters when clearly he does not. His quick and impulsive decision in which he promotes Regan and Goneril over and above Cordlia promotes the view to the audience that shallow, naïve and has not thought of the consequences of his actions.
As stated earlier King Lear demonstrates considerable favouritism towards his youngest daughter Cordelia. In the very first line spoken by Kent it clear that the King also has favouritism between his advisors.
– KENT: “I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.” – 1-1-1.
Perhaps the actions of King Lear were purely put down to his disbelief of what Cordelia had said. He had planned to live and rest in her third of the kingdom.
– LEAR: “I loved her most, and thought to set my rest upon her kind nursery….” – 1-1-118
By the end of the first scene King Lear has made himself increasingly unpopular with the audience. He has abdicated the throne, divided his kingdom, disowned his honest daughter and shown he has favourites. King Lear who thought that he would leave his life stress-free to a peaceful retirement had in fact created more problems than he had before. The declaration of love perhaps was planned to scare the two suitors of Cordelia. Lear had already planned that he would live with Cordelia as in later years it was the youngest daughter who was to look after their parents during in later life. When Lear offers Cordelia to the Duke of Burgundy without a dowry he reclines and Cordelia refuses. King Lear refuses to even offer Cordelia to the King of France, which emphasises the astonishing cruelty that Lear shows to a daughter who a few minutes ago he loved most. His anger and temper does not restrain just on Cordelia as both France and Kent are cursed on by the King again revealing his wicked side.
The Steward audience by the end of the first scene would feel challenged, as a number of their beliefs would have been changed. King Lear, just one character would have done the opposite to exactly what was right so therefore would immediately King Lear would mot have given a very good impression to a Steward audience.
One point that becomes really apparent is the fact that King Lear actually believes he knows his daughters when clearly he doesn’t. This is particularly visible of his relationship with Cordelia whom he loved most. Both Goneril and Regan, the two eldest sisters, perform extravagant speeches of flattery and praise to secure their portion of the land. Goneril, the eldest born, delivers her speech first and refers to loving her father more than eyesight, space and freedom and then continues to say that she loves him even more than all the qualities she had just said.
- GONERIL “Sir I love you more than the world can wield, the matter,
Dearer then eyesight, space, and liberty…
…Beyond all manner of so much I love you.” –1-1-51
Certain competitiveness is sensed between the two eldest sisters as they both proclaim their love towards their father. The second sister, Regan, begins her speech by criticising her sibling by saying although she agrees with her feeling she comes to short of her own which are expressed far more repulsive and extravagant then Goneril’s were before hand.
- REGAN “I am made of that self metal that my sister…
…In my true heart I find she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short…” –I-I-65
Both the sisters can be seen playing along with Lear’s game of declaring the love for him publicly. This can only be put down to the benefiting consequences they will receive if they engage with the spectacle. While daughters declare all their divine love to their father, their husband resting beside them do not stir at all to the fact that wives have just announce that they only love their father all. This is evidence that the two sisters have thought about the result of this meeting and the gain that both herself and her husband will inherit form it.
This will not of portrayed a very positive image of the eldest two daughters to the audience. However the third and youngest Cordelia refuses to play along with King Lears game simply reply that she has nothing to say. Imeddiatly this would have shocked the audience but not in a displeasing way for the audience would not have approved of the character of King Lear and would have been glad to see him challenge, correctly in their beliefs.
