Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth.
-Cordelia
In a moment of high pressure, young Cordelia takes the high road, standing in contrast to her brash father and sisters. The depth of character in this young, beautiful girl took hold of my sympathies from the beginning. She is offered a kingdom, a husband, and her father's favor in exchange for a few simple flattering words, but she decides not to play their game. I find the relationship between her and Lear fascinating because it is not like she hates him and is rebelling against him. Instead, she loves and respects him, but in his faults she cannot support him. How difficult it is to stand up against a loving parent, to tell an elder that they are wrong. Honesty truly shines forth in the opening scene.
I really am enjoying this play. I think it interests me because the relationships are so complex and real and messy. This dysfunctional family is relatable to me, and I think that is why I enjoy tragedy. It reveals moments of weakness and moments of strength. Both King Lear's brash decision to banish his daughter and Cordelia's decision to be honest... Those moments shape our lives and have such lasting consequences. With these moments, words have the ability to do great damage or to bring about peace. This idea reminds me of a passage from the Bible that talks about the tongue.
I really am enjoying this play. I think it interests me because the relationships are so complex and real and messy. This dysfunctional family is relatable to me, and I think that is why I enjoy tragedy. It reveals moments of weakness and moments of strength. Both King Lear's brash decision to banish his daughter and Cordelia's decision to be honest... Those moments shape our lives and have such lasting consequences. With these moments, words have the ability to do great damage or to bring about peace. This idea reminds me of a passage from the Bible that talks about the tongue.
Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
James 3: 5-6
I recently had this experience while traveling with a group over Spring Break. We had been traveling for... too long, and during a 14 hour layover, my tongue took over in moment of weakness. I exploded in anger at a friend when she gave me some simple advice. This explosion was out of character for me, and afterward I realized the consequences of my momentary weakness. Shakespeare of course understands this human experience of momentary decisions, and he plays with the experience a lot in King Lear.
