Loss Of Power In King Lear

The obvious problem with King Lear’s division of his kingdom is that he is handing over power to his two selfish, power-hungry daughters. King Lear’s underlying reasoning for handing over the power to his heirs is his prompt plans for retirement. Lear is an elderly man and has decided to relinquish his active duties as king while still maintaining certain privileges as well as his title of king. In 1.1, Lear tells Cornwall and Albany, “Only shall we retain/ The name, and all th' additions to a king” (138-139). Basically, he wants to enjoy the power of being king without any of the responsibility. The overt problem with this rash decision is that Lear believes he can separate power and responsibility. This outcome leads to tragic events

The fact that he demands that each of his daughters publicly voice their undying love and devotion for him is quite baffling and really pathetic. It gives the audience a raw view of some of King Lear’s insecurities and the fear that the aging man has of his relevance in the world. Goneril and Regan’s speeches are not real validations of their true feelings for their father but rather false flowery infused statements to placate his need for palpable flattery. Goneril feels her so-called love cannot be put into words, “a love that makes breath poor and speech unable” (I, i, 60). While Regan follows her sisters’ declaration with her own falsified sentiment by saying, “I find she names my very deed of love— only she comes too short…” (I. i, 70-71). This behavior only makes sense in the mind of King Lear. His need for constant self-assurance is fabricated by his greedy older daughters who betray him in the end. On the contrary, Cordelia has no desire to mock her love for King Lear. Before he even asks her the question, she says to herself, “love, and be silent” (I, i, 61). Eventually, Cordelia’s genuine love for her father and King Lear’s inability to see it spark the tragic events that