King Lear, by William Shakespeare, is a tragic tale of filial conflict, personal transformation, and loss. The story revolves around the King who foolishly alienates his only truly devoted daughter and realizes too late the true nature of his other two daughters. The play begins with Lear, an old king ready for retirement, preparing to divide the kingdom among his three daughters. Lear has his daughters compete for their inheritance by judging who can proclaim their love for him in the grandest possible fashion. King Lear had three daughters-Regan, Goneril and Cordelia. Regan was one of the two "evil" sisters in the play who lavish Lear with praise to receive power and land. “I am made of that self mettle as my sister, and prize me at her worth.” –Regan (Act I, Scene I, Lines 69-70.) Speaking after Goneril she attempts to tell King Lear she loves him most, but ironically she is the first to openly betray him. At that time, Regan is married to the Duke of Cornwall. Goneril was the other "evil" sister. She and Regan play a critical role in both the tragedy, and the driving Lear insane. And at that time, she is married to the Duke of Albany. Cordelia was the youngest of Lear's daughters. She was Lear's favorite, and is the one that truly loves Lear the most. Unfortunately, her honesty costs her own inheritance. “From whom we do exist and cease to be, here I disclaim all my paternal care, propinquity, and property of blood, and as a stranger to my heart and me hold three from this forever.” – Lear (Act I, Scene I, Lines 113-115.) Cordelia finds that she is unable to show her love with mere words: "What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent."-Cordelia (Act I, scene I, Lines 63-64.) Cordelia's nature is such that she is unable to engage in even so forgivable a deception as to satisfy an old king's vanity and pride, as we see again in the following quotation: “Then poor Cordelia! And not so, s...
