Theme Of Nothingness In King Lear

Ryan Moore

Professor Diane Marks

Overview Literature I (M,W 12:50 – 2:05p)

November 27th, 2013

Nothingness in King Lear

Although Lear proposes to his daughters that if they tell him how much they love him, he will in return divide parts of the kingdom for them, he has in fact already allocated them each a portion. He indicates this in the opening dialogue between the earls of Gloucester and Kent (1.1.1 -- 6). What prompts him to engage his children in this sham contest is evidently nothing more than vanity. Perhaps all three daughters recognize the contest for what it truly ism but Gone rill and Regan go along with the game anyway, professing in hyperbolic terms what they say they feel for their father. Cordelia refuses. In her asides to the audience she indicates her dilemma: “What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent” (1.1 57). When Lear turns to her and asks what she can say to win “A third more opulent than your sisters,” she replies simply, nothing, my lord” (1.1.82). Asked again, she reiterates her answer, to which Lear responds in a rage.

The use of the word word “nothing” first takes place between Lear and Cordelia. Lear asks his three daughters to profress their love for him. However, when Cordelia is prompted to speak, she replied “Nothing, my Lord” (1.1.87.). Cordelia objectifies herself in the play by acknowledging that her other sisters are only staging an act for Lear. Unlike her sister, Cordelia is not able to bring herself to praise Lear falsely. Instead, she states “I love you majesty according to my bond, no more no less” (1.1.92-93). Throughout this notably short dialogue, the word “nothing” is repeated four times. It time that it is restated, it implies a different meaning. Shakespeare uses repetit...

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...ne he has favored more. He then promptly disowns Cordelia and banishes her from his sight.

Along with alter events, this incident brings sharply into focus the nature of the bond between parent and child, child and parent, and recalls the theme of marriage depicted in a previous Shake sphere play, Othello in the relationship between Desdemona her divided loyalty to her husband and father. After Cordelia bids farewell to her sisters, recognizing the potential danger to her father, left in their hands. Gonerill and Regan, on their part naively reject Cordelia’s warning – “Prescribe us not our duty,” Reagan says (1.1. 270). They then set about planning how to deal with the old king, their father. “We must do something, and I’th’heat,” Gonerill tells Regan (298).

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. King Lear. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print