Cordelia Flashcards
How is Cordelia viewed as more problematical for audiences today compared to Jacobean audiences
She is infuriatingly pious in her refusal to take part in Lear’s love test despite knowing how evil Goneril and Regan are
Can we blame Cordelia for Lear’s downfall
You could,In her refusal to take part in Lear’s ‘love test’ she allows her sisters to gain reign despite knowing their evil tendencies
What could Cordelia’s refusal of the love test and her acceptance of France be interpreted as
An act of defiance against the patriarchy.Refusing to submit to her fathers will
What could Cordelia’s death be viewed as ‘punishment’ for
Her early actions in letting Goneril and Regan get their hands on the kingdom
What is Cordelia mainly characterised as
She is seen as virtuous and is held in high esteem by the ‘good’ characters.France takes her for her virtues alone as she has lost her power at that moment
What could it be argued are Cordelia’s motives in act 1 scene 1
She is perhaps trying to alert Lear to his poor judgement.She refuses to participate in the glib public speaking showing her integrity and her ‘nothing’ appears increasingly honest and worthy as the play progresses and we begin to distrust those that have a way with words
How does Cordelia’s return characterise her as a great person
Kent and the Gentleman stress her feminine beauty and modesty and the pain felt when hearing about Lear’s sufferings
How is Cordelia shown as a perfect daughter
She is solicitous and respectful towards her father,restored as his ‘best object’ she is the selfless daughter full of pity and love
What does Lear say when Cordelia is dead
“A dog,a horse,a rat have life/ And thou no breath at all”.We ask the same question about this virtuous daughter
What are the explanations of Cordelia’s death
Some believe Shakespeare needed a final cruel blow to bring about Lear’s death
Perhaps Cordelia’s death is an expression of the playwrights tragic vision
It could also be a final example of man’s inhumanity to man in the world of King Lear
It also shows the full horror and consequences of Lear’s folly
For some Cordelia’s death is the true tragedy of King Lear
How is Cordelia characterised against her sisters
She is stubborn like them yet she is a paragon in comparison with her sisters
With an ‘ever soft’ voice which is ‘gentle and low-an excellent thing in a woman’.It’s impossible to imagine Lear’s other ‘dog hearted’ daughters ever being described in this way
She counteracts the vicious masculine cruelty of Goneril and Regan and the abhorrence of the female character they show in the play.Her death is worth avenging
What could it be argued are Cordelia’s motives in act 1 scene 1
She is perhaps trying to alert Lear to his poor judgement.She refuses to participate in the glib public speaking showing her integrity and her ‘nothing’ appears increasingly honest and worthy as the play progresses and we begin to distrust those that have a way with words
