Lear's Daughters - Regan, Goneril and Cordelia
The Representation of Women in King Lear
Mar 29, 2009
Shakespeare's Women.
It is evident that Shakespeare has written the women of King Lear in a way that is ambiguous and lends itself to the possibility of interpretation. Goneril and Regan in particular are hotly debated. It can be argued that they are the evildoers of the piece, but Shakespeare never creates two-dimensional characters. There is evidence within the play that the two elder daughters behave as they do in response to their treatment at the hands of Lear.
The Female Characters of King Lear.
For example, the commencement of the play is a competition, orchestrated by King Lear. He instigates the 'who loves Daddy most?' contest, which from Gloucester’s “…in the division of the kingdom it appears not which of the/Dukes he values most…” we know to be a completely arbitrary exercise. Lear also makes no secret that Cordelia is his favourite and we can be fairly sure that he knows she loves him more. So, why does he put them to the test? Surely the only outcome from this little exercise can be jealousy, resentment and rivalry? Therefore, can we blame Goneril and Regan for acting as they do?
Goneril & Regan: Evil or Just Misunderstood Young Women?
It seems that an audience’s dislike of Goneril and Regan is primarily created by their lust for power. However, in a male character this trait may not be so distasteful. It seems that it is the combination of femininity and power which is difficult to reconcile with, even today. This is interesting, when we consider that King Lear was written approximately two years after the death of Elizabeth I. So, perhaps therefore, it is not the notion of a woman in a position of power that is problematic.
Instead, the problem seems to arise when a woman is openly displaying ambition and succumbing to it with violent actions. This seems to be typically masculine behaviour and it appears that it is the abandoning of femininity that an audience finds both repellent and fascinating in both Goneril and Regan.
From the outset, it seems that we are ostensibly offered a representation of Lear’s two elder daughters as scheming and Machiavellian.
Cordelia: King Lear's Youngest Daughter.
Cordelia, meanwhile, appears to redeem womankind. Her honesty is both refreshing and dignified, which is in sharp contrast to her sisters' rehearsed and empty speeches. Despite her father’s obviously growing anger Cordelia remains calm and refuses to participate in his perverse game. In fact, it seems that of the three daughter’s Cordelia has become most like her father. She certainly seems to have inherited his stubborn streak.
Lear's Influence Upon His Girls.
Not only this, but it is evident that Lear can be very cruel as well as stubborn. First, we observe an instance of it in his overreaction over Cordelia’s insistence that she will not take part in the charade of dividing the kingdom. Second, there is his callous outburst, this time directed towards Goneril, in which he prays to the gods that she be made infertile. At this particular point in the play it seems that all Goneril has done to prompt his outburst is to ask that a portion of his entourage be dismissed. Lear's overreactions, and his cruelty to Goneril over something which is seemingly trivial, could be seen as stimulus for his daughters’ later malice.
It seems that through Lear's rages, and his bizarre way of measuring love, we are offered glimpses of his slightly unorthodox parenting style. Is it any wonder, therefore, that his daughters seem a little less than well-balanced? It is possible to view all three of Lear's daughters as victims of their father. One thing is certain, though, these women are extremely complex. Shakespeare has written three very full, interesting and diverse characters and the women of the play should not be considered as two-dimensional, or singularly driven.
