The Relationship Between Power, Wealth, and Love in Act 1, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's King Lear.
A1, Sc. 1:
Cordelia:
Since that respect and fortune are his [Burgundy's] love,
I shall not be his wife. (Shakespeare 288-89)
To paraphrase, Cordelia notes that she has been rejected because she has lost her potential power and wealth. She also notes in this ambiguous phrase "I shall not be his wife" that she has also rejected Burgundy because Burgundy places power/wealth above love.
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How does Shakespeare present love, wealth, and power? How does he express this in A1, Sc. 1?
Shakespeare characterizes King Lear as an old man failing in his age, falling to insecurities and immaturity. From this high seat of power, Lear grants power and wealth in exchange for "love" from his daughters, perhaps in an attempt to prove he is still supposed to be the subject of love and attention. However, Shakespeare uses Lear's characterization against his actions. When Lear denies dowry for Cordelia, he presents his view that power and wealth are more important than love. But, Lear's childish temperament discredits him to the audience, allowing Shakespeare to assert just the opposite of Lear's view on love.
Just as King Lear is characterized as one who splits inheritance of wealth and power before he addresses love (even when he addresses love, he takes it on childishly, in a give and take manner), his daughters are separately characterized in their views and motives for showing filial love. Goneril and Regan, Lear's eldest daughters, once they are alone on stage in the first scene of Act 1, reveal their true nature and intentions. Shakespeare juxtaposes their public speeches earlier in the scene (where they "confess" their undying and boundless love for their father, King Lear) to their isolated and honest discussion of what they intend. They plan to take carefully take advantage of Lear's insecurities in old age, concluding they must "think further on it" and "do something, . . . i' th' heat" (Shakespeare 354-55). This means that while the issues of paternal duties and power and wealth are being discussed and causing rife in the families, they, the scheming sisters, must work to control the situation while it still burns fresh and new.
It is natural for the audience to take an instant interest as well as dislike towards the two sisters. Obviously they intend to play their father's power and wealth into their own hands, but Shakespeare uses this to further remove himself from the idea that power takes precedence over love. King Lear has stated his position and so have his two older daughters. His youngest daughter however values love over the need for a dowry and inheritance of power and wealth, which is why she ends up taking the hand of the King of France, who says his "love kindle to enflamed respect. - / Thy dowerless daughter . . . / is queen of us", defending his love for her love by saying that nothing "Can buy this unprized precious maid of me." (Shakespeare 296 - 301). The King of France sees, for some reason, the now poor Cordelia much more valuable than he has ever seen her. By calling her his "unprized maid of me", he challenges others to say something about her because she is now the bride of the wealthy King of France.
The relationship between love and power and wealth in King Lear, Act 1 Scene 1, plays against two different views. One, a view that power and wealth will spur love or not even require love, and two, a view that love can bring about power and wealth just through the union of a true marriage (between the King of France and Cordelia). However, how true is the love between Cordelia and the King of France? The Duke of Burgundy had discarded Lear's daughter, and so the spoils went to the victor of the battle for Cordelia: the King of France. Thus, who can say that the love that Cordelia expressed, and her acceptance of the King of France, is nothing more than the acceptance of fate's playing cards?
In just the first scene of the first act, Shakespeare already makes clear his preference for love over influence and wealth, but the actions that are unfolding reveal the futility in this sort of relationship; already, Goneril and Regan are plotting to abuse their "love" for King Lear, and already, love has failed in the face of wealth in the rejection of Cordelia's dowry.
Cordelia:
Since that respect and fortune are his [Burgundy's] love,
I shall not be his wife. (Shakespeare 288-89)
To paraphrase, Cordelia notes that she has been rejected because she has lost her potential power and wealth. She also notes in this ambiguous phrase "I shall not be his wife" that she has also rejected Burgundy because Burgundy places power/wealth above love.
____________________________________
How does Shakespeare present love, wealth, and power? How does he express this in A1, Sc. 1?
Shakespeare characterizes King Lear as an old man failing in his age, falling to insecurities and immaturity. From this high seat of power, Lear grants power and wealth in exchange for "love" from his daughters, perhaps in an attempt to prove he is still supposed to be the subject of love and attention. However, Shakespeare uses Lear's characterization against his actions. When Lear denies dowry for Cordelia, he presents his view that power and wealth are more important than love. But, Lear's childish temperament discredits him to the audience, allowing Shakespeare to assert just the opposite of Lear's view on love.
Just as King Lear is characterized as one who splits inheritance of wealth and power before he addresses love (even when he addresses love, he takes it on childishly, in a give and take manner), his daughters are separately characterized in their views and motives for showing filial love. Goneril and Regan, Lear's eldest daughters, once they are alone on stage in the first scene of Act 1, reveal their true nature and intentions. Shakespeare juxtaposes their public speeches earlier in the scene (where they "confess" their undying and boundless love for their father, King Lear) to their isolated and honest discussion of what they intend. They plan to take carefully take advantage of Lear's insecurities in old age, concluding they must "think further on it" and "do something, . . . i' th' heat" (Shakespeare 354-55). This means that while the issues of paternal duties and power and wealth are being discussed and causing rife in the families, they, the scheming sisters, must work to control the situation while it still burns fresh and new.
It is natural for the audience to take an instant interest as well as dislike towards the two sisters. Obviously they intend to play their father's power and wealth into their own hands, but Shakespeare uses this to further remove himself from the idea that power takes precedence over love. King Lear has stated his position and so have his two older daughters. His youngest daughter however values love over the need for a dowry and inheritance of power and wealth, which is why she ends up taking the hand of the King of France, who says his "love kindle to enflamed respect. - / Thy dowerless daughter . . . / is queen of us", defending his love for her love by saying that nothing "Can buy this unprized precious maid of me." (Shakespeare 296 - 301). The King of France sees, for some reason, the now poor Cordelia much more valuable than he has ever seen her. By calling her his "unprized maid of me", he challenges others to say something about her because she is now the bride of the wealthy King of France.
The relationship between love and power and wealth in King Lear, Act 1 Scene 1, plays against two different views. One, a view that power and wealth will spur love or not even require love, and two, a view that love can bring about power and wealth just through the union of a true marriage (between the King of France and Cordelia). However, how true is the love between Cordelia and the King of France? The Duke of Burgundy had discarded Lear's daughter, and so the spoils went to the victor of the battle for Cordelia: the King of France. Thus, who can say that the love that Cordelia expressed, and her acceptance of the King of France, is nothing more than the acceptance of fate's playing cards?
In just the first scene of the first act, Shakespeare already makes clear his preference for love over influence and wealth, but the actions that are unfolding reveal the futility in this sort of relationship; already, Goneril and Regan are plotting to abuse their "love" for King Lear, and already, love has failed in the face of wealth in the rejection of Cordelia's dowry.
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