English 144: King Lear

I think I have read this play before because I remember the beginning with the father asking for all of his daughters to praise him with their love in order to get their third of the kingdom. Now Cordelia does not do the same as her sisters but says that she loves him, obeys him, and cares for him BUT can only half give herself to her father for if she marries then half of herself becomes her husband’s. Was she just trying to be smart in this speech or did she truly mean it and did not want to lie like her sister’s were? I mean, by doing this her father disowned her but by losing everything she gets the King of France who still wants her. So I mean, in a way she got someone who will love her when she has nothing at all, unlike her sister’s who will marry because of the land they got. To me, Cordelia comes off as the smart, real, and true character. She is not going to lie to saver herself or to get rich. She tells her father how she honestly feels and accepts full punishment for it. Also, she does not seem to want to marry for money and power. When the Duke of Burgundy no longer wants her because she is nothing to the kingdom of Britain, she is happy and say how she will never be his wife. That is when the King of France says he still wants her, so she ends up with a man who is not completely centered on power and moneyà or so I hope. I do not remember how the play ends, but I am very interested to see what happens. I still cannot believe that King Lear disowned his favorite daughter for her being honest that half her love, care, and duty will go to her husband. Oh man… he sounds like a self centered man.