1. Lear Banishes Cordelia Flashcards
Quote:
“Lear: Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this for ever.”
A01:
Lear’s rejection of Cordelia is a moment of profound emotional brutality, setting the stage for the ensuing tragedy. His words, greatly dense with legal and familial severance, reveal his impulsive and catastrophic decision-making. This act decays the natural familial bonds and foreshadows the chaos to come.
A02:
The formal diction, “disclaim all my paternal care,” emphasizes the severity and finality of Lear’s decision.
The stark transformation of Cordelia from daughter to “stranger” in his heart underscores his emotional blindness and emphasizes the unnaturalness of his decision.
The use of harsh, formal language such as “disclaim,” “paternal care,” “propinquity,” and “property of blood” conveys a sense of finality and legalistic severance, underscoring the brutality of Lear’s decision. The choice of words highlights the cold, calculated nature of Lear’s renunciation, emphasizing its savagery.
However, Lears use of legalistic language contrasts with the personal nature of the relationship, highlighting Lear’s inability to distinguish between genuine affection and superficial flattery, perhaps highlighting Lear’s inability to distinguish between genuine affection and superficial flattery.
A03:
Lear’s impulsive decision to disown Cordelia highlights his tragic flaw—his inability to perceive genuine loyalty and love. This reflects the broader theme of blindness and insight, which is central to the play. For instance, Lear’s savage actions can be seen as the initial step in the tragic unraveling of his character and kingdom. The brutality of his decision contributes to the overall tragic structure of the play, where personal flaws and errors in judgment lead to widespread suffering and downfall.
A04:
In Elizabethan and Jacobean England, the family was a microcosm of the state, and the father was seen as the head of the household, wielding significant authority over his children. Lear’s dramatic disowning of Cordelia not only disrupts familial bonds but also mirrors the potential chaos in the broader societal and political structure. This cultural emphasis on patriarchal authority is crucial to understanding the gravity of Lear’s declaration and its implications for the play’s exploration of authority, loyalty, and family.
A05:
From a tragic perspective, Lear’s speech is a manifestation of his tragic flaw—his hubris and blindness to truth. The brutality of his actions toward Cordelia is seen as a critical mistake that leads to his downfall. This interpretation emphasizes the inevitability of tragedy due to Lear’s inherent flaws, showcasing the savagery of his judgment as both a personal and a cosmic failing.
