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King Lear Summary (Major Characters: (Goneril: ("Beyond all manner of…

- - - - The Motif "Nothing" is the largest motif in the play, said a total of 34 times with many different meanings, the most evident being the following quote. The word nothing in Shakespearean slang actually referred to female genitalia, and so the quote could have meant that once you have nothing in the world you are reduced to a woman.
      - This reflects the entire of the play, as the more powerful Goneril, Regan and even Cordelia become, the less feminine they act, and they become more masculine in behaviour. In complete opposition to this, once Lear looses all power he held, he noticeably starts to behave in a more feminine was, with emotional outbursts - and later realisation of truth.
    - - Lear has clearly lost his mind at this stage of the okay, crucial as it makes the audience pity him and grow and emotional attachment which will be necessary to feel the devastation when he dies.
    - - Lear starts to recognise his wrong doings, and in this moment, reduces himself to what he now really is. No longer a great and powerful king, but a confused old man.
    - - Lear believes that he is entirely being wronged by the actions of this around him. This entirely reflects his blindness to the truth and his delusion fulled reality.
- - - - He already plans to give Cordelia, the youngest daughter, the best land as he loves her the most. Yet, he makes them tell him how much they love him 'to decide what land goes to who'
    - - Lear is angered by this, so banishes her. Kent steps in to defend Cordelia, and he is then banished too.