Explore the Relationship between Lear and Cordelia with Particular Reference to Act one Scene one; and how it Affects to the Rest of the Play.

"To shake all cares and business from our age,

Conferring them on younger strengths while we

Unburdened crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,

And you, our no less loving son Albany,

We have this hour a constant will to publish

Our daughters' several dowers that future strife

May be prevented now."

Lear has decided to divide his Kingdom between his three daughters to save future troubles. One piece of the Kingdom however is bigger than the others and the daughter that can express her love most will get the largest piece.

"Which of you shall we say doth love us most,

That we our largest bounty may extend"

Lear likes to be assured he likes to be made a "fuss-of", if he did not then he would not ask his daughters to show their love for him. Especially not in front of all the people that our in this scene. First of all Lear asks his eldest daughter Gonerill to speak gonerill goes totally over the top in expressing her love, as she is driven by greed, she wants the largest piece of land as it will bring the most power. Gonerill says things like:

"Sir, I love you more than the world can wield matter,

Dearer that eyesight, space and liberty;"

After the speech Cordelia says to herself,

"What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent."

Cordelia says this to plan what she will say she has decided not to enter into this competition for more land and power. Cordelia already knows that her sister Regan will compete so already Cordelia has opted out. Then Lear asks Regan to speak, Regan finds it hard to use words and phrases to compete her sister so Regan says that:

"Only she comes to short, that I profess

Myself an enemy to all other joys"

Cordelia again aside says:

" The poor Cordelia,

And yet not so, since I am sure my love's

More ponderous than my tongue."

Cordelia knows she can't compete with her sisters now. It is not that she does not love her father as much as she says her love is greater than her words. Lear is not pleased with this and gives Cordelia several chances to improve what she has said; when Cordelia will not show a great love of her father Lear gets angry. Lear explodes with anger his love has turned to anger in seconds. Lear demands to see Cordelias suitors France and Burgundy to marry her to one of them quickly so that he can get rid of his daughter only there will be no dowry. Kent try's to stop the king but this makes Lear even angrier.

" Kent, on thy life no more"

Kent persists and is banished by Lear. Burgundy refuses to marry Cordelia without some gift of land and so it is France that takes Cordelia with him.