The Loathed Lady

A detailed Summary of The Loathed Lady

The Loathed Lady

The play King Lear by William Shakespeare portrays the effects of villainy and ruthlessness. The decline of the kingdom and the lives of those involved in this tragedy begin when King Lear asks his three daughters Cordelia, Goneril, and Regan to profess their love to him. The amount of love that they claim to possess will in return reward them with a third of Lear's kingdom. The oldest daughter Goneril goes first and is followed by Regan. Both these daughters make ambiguous claims of love that, when taken literally, cannot be true. Of course, the third and the last to make her claim is Cordelia. Cordelia is terse in her description of her love for her father; she says what is logical and makes her point without the use of flattery and exaggeration. Her straightforwardness disappoints King Lear as a father and as a king. Therefore, he divides Cordelia's third of the kingdom among her evil, scheming sisters Goneril and Regan. Goneril displays ruthlessness, selfishness, and ungratefulness towards her husband Albany, her sister Regan, and her father King Lear.

The ungratefulness of Lear's children is one of the major themes presented. Goneril exhibits this quality as much as her sister Regan does. Goneril uses flattery to attain her third of Lear's kingdom as well as to cause Lear to believe that Goneril possesses goodness. She eventually ends up leaving her father outside in the raging storm without shelter. She tells her father that she has no room for his train of knights and servants. Goneril and Regan take all of Lear's power away. Goneril assists in Lear's arrest when she does nothing to stop it. Lear dies knowing her true evilness. He regrets his foolishness for dividing his kingdom the way he did and for believing such false testimonies.

'Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him off. If your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done if he return the conqueror. Then am I the prisoner, and his bed my goal; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply place for your labor'

Goneril is the oldest of the three daughters and can be said to be indistinguishable from

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 754
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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