Importance Of Communication In King Lear

In King Lear, letters seem to act as the main means of communication amongst the characters, playing a vital role in the play. In particular, the method of communication between the Duke of Kent and Cordelia is peculiar, as both seem to have information on each other that they possibly couldn’t have had.

When King Lear disowns Cordelia, the Duke of Kent is soon banished afterwards for defending her. After this, Cordelia and Kent begin to communicate through letters sent by messengers. These letters seem to be circulating in high speed, reaching Kent even when he is in disguise and on the move. These letters, sent from a king’s disowned daughter to a banished Duke, could be very dangerous if intercepted, therefore, the messenger would have had to deliver them directly to the individual, and not the place they were staying at. This brings up the question of how the messenger, or Cordelia, could have known about Kent’s disguise and his whereabouts, when he had yet to disclose them.

In act II, scene 2, Kent, in the stocks at Gloucester’s house, and calls on the “warm sun” (2.2 line 177, page 95) to “approach, thou beacon to this under globe,| That by thy comfortable beams I may| Peruse this letter” (2.2, lines 178-180, page 95).

I know 'tis from Cordelia,

Who hath most fortunately been inform'd

Of my obscured course; and shall find time

From this enormous state, seeking to give

Losses their remedies. All weary and o'erwatch'd,

Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold

This shameful lodging.

Fortune, good night: smile once more: turn thy wheel! (2.2, lines 181-189, page 95).

There is no real answer to how Kent has the letter in his possession, and how the messenger knew where to find him. It is possible that Kent could have mentioned...

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...s intercepted.

Cordelia doesn’t send a reply to Kent’s letter through the gentleman, making Kent ask him about her reaction when she read it. Kent therefore asks if “made she no verbal question” (Act 4, sc.3, line 28, page 187) and if the gentleman had “spoke not with her since” (4.3, lines 41-42, page 187). This indicates that Kent and Cordelia also communicate through verbal messages sent through the same messengers, which would explain the discrepancies and gaps in written communication.

The reader is unable to follow the timeline of the scenes through Cordelia and Kent’s letters because of the missing pieces in the play. The play’s plot, in a way, is developed based upon the various letters. Due to the inconsistent method of Cordelia and Kent, can the reader read the play based on the letters, or must they look beyond the play itself for its full meaning?