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One upon a time, King Lear ruled over Britain. He had
three beautiful daughters. Goneril, the eldest, was
married to the Duke of Albany. Regan, was wife to the
Duke of Cornwall. The youngest, Cordelia, was still
single. King Lear was old and felt that the royal duties
were becoming too much for him to bear. So, he decided
to let his daughters govern his kingdom. he planned to
give the largest part of his kingdom to the daughter who
loved him most. He summoned his daughters and
commanded his courtiers to assemble in the palace hall.
King Lear asked his daughters to declare in public how
much they loved him.
"Sir, " began Goneril. "I love you so much that words
cannot express how I feel. I love only you."
King Lear was delighted with her reply. He gave a
third of his kingdom to her. When it was Regan's turn to
answer her father's question, she said, "Sir, my love
for you is no less than Goneril's. I too love only you."
Her words pleased her father very much and she was
rewarded handsomely too.
Cordelia was the King's favorite daughter. He
expected her to express an even deeper love for him than
that declared by her sisters. Cordelia was sickened by
her sisters' insincerity. She was too honest and sincere
a person to flatter her father like sisters had. She
refused to publicly announce her love for him. Her
silence infuriated King Lear. He warned her that she
would get nothing from him if she remained silent.
"Father," Cordelia said, "I love you as a daughter
should. I respect as well as obey you. I cannot promise
that I will love no one but you. If both my sisters love
only you, then why have they married ?"
Cordelia's reply sent her father into a rage and led
him to disown her. This pleased Goneril and Regan for
they disliked their youngest sister because she was the
apple of their father's eye. The courtiers listened in
amazement but they were too frightened to intervene on
Cordelia's behalf. All except the Duke the Kent. As he
opened his mouth to speak, the King warned him not to
interfere in a family matter. Though her father's
decision to disown her caused Cordelia much pain, she
refused to be a hypocrite like her sisters.
Meanwhile, the King of France and the Duke of
Burgundy who both wanted Cordelia's hand in marriage,
were waiting to see the king. King Lear summoned them
and told them that Cordelia had no share of his kingdom
and would have no wedding dowry at all. He then asked
them if they were still interested in marrying her.
The Duke of Burgundy excused himself politely for he
was only interested in the power and wealth Cordelia had
before she was disowned. The King of France was a
smarter man. He understood that Cordelia's honesty and
sincerity had prevented her from stooping to flattery
just to please her foolish father. He took Cordelia'
hands in his and said to King Lear, " Cordelia's good
heart means more to me than any kingdom. |
